Organiser apparatus

Abstract

An organiser for a cord, for use in organising a cord by a hand of a person, the organiser having opposing sides in a resiliently hinged relationship and between which the cable can be received and held, the sides forming therebetween a holding section in which sections of the cable are held, wherein distal ends of each side forms a mouth through which the cord can be received, the mouth constricting to a neck portion having generally parallel sides to provide resistance of passage of the cord through the neck portion and into or out of the holding section.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an organiser apparatus, and in particular to an organiser apparatus for organising cords or similar.

[0002] Cables, cords and the like are used everywhere, at home or at work, when travelling, and carrying out repairs. Cables and similar long items are generally stored wound in small loops, as a convenient way to carry or store these item. Extension cords, as very long cords, are used from time to time to allow a power source to be accessed and power provided remote from the nearest power socket. When working in the garden, or when camping, extension cords are often used to extend the range of use of powered items. Multiple cords are generally needed by a household, and these cables easily can become tangled or messy if not carefully put away. Generally, a person will unwind the cable to provide the length and plug into a socket, to enable powered equipment to be used at the extended distance. After use the person will usually wind up the extension cable around their arm to form a small loop and then form similar sized loops repeatedly about their arm until the entire cable is wound up. This method of looping the cable takes practise and can be awkward to perform with long and heavy cables. Once the cable is wound up the person has around their arms 20 or so loops of cable, which the person then needs to move to the place for storage, while keeping all the loops in place. The reality is that this is very difficult to do and so often a person will try to tie the loops in place, once the loops are created, by using part of the cable to hold them in place.

[0003] Electrical cables or telecommunication cables are easily damaged by excess bending, stretching or tying. In fact tying an electrical cable is never recommended due to the likely damage to the delicate conductor fibres and or plastic coating. Tying up cables to tie up the loops will shorten the life of the cables in the long term and can also lead to short term damage, which is highly undesirable. For any long items, cords, cables or hoses, it is preferable not to excessively bend or strain the item to prevent damage. The same is true for both domestic cables and for those used industrially. At a mine site or industrial site there may be numerous electrical cables, and should these become damaged, or tangled, there will be unnecessary down time, which will have a measurable cost.

[0004] Conventional cables, if just stored randomly may be in part looped when put away but as moved around during the storage will become more and more disorganised. At the time of retrieval of the cord, after some time, it is likely therefore that the cable will be a tangled mess. This is undesirable, as when the person looks for the cable they have a need to use it and would like to be able to do so quickly and easily. Instead they will need to spend some time untangling the cord, before it can be used at all. If the cable has been tied up using part of the cable, this tied up part must be untied before the cable may be used and the tied up and excessively bent cable may become damaged over time which is undesirable. Again, electrical cables are vulnerable to damage internally or externally if they are tied, bend or moved beyond the nature curve. This potential may be avoided if the cable may be gently and naturally looped for storage.

[0005] The inventor has developed a surprisingly effective new way to organise long items such as electrical cords or cables, in a quick and easy way that can be readily used, and reused, without damage to the cables, even in the long term. Use of a cleverly designed arrangement enables the organiser to be used to the left or right hand side. The multi-faceted invention may be made of high-viz materials to enable the organiser to be found quickly, even at a distance, include LED lights, be made of recycled materials and include additional clips, hooks or handle features. Use of a central hole in the handle part enables the looped cables to be secured in place, by threading through an end or plug, to assist to maintain the looped form. In this way the organised cable is held in the organiser, in the looped formation and can be stored or transported very easily in a compact and secure form. Damage through the long term storage or transport is largely prevented as the loops of cable are kept perfectly and prevented from tangling or being knotted. The organiser will keep all the loops of the cable in place, separated sufficient to prevent tangling, but looped together by passing each loop into a holding part. A further clip may be included to hold the first half of the looped cables, and the final part placed and held through the handle part of the holder.

[0006] The invention includes a mouth or receiving means through which the cord can be received and a holding section or holding means in which sections of the cable are held. The cables are looped and part received in the holding section to form and hold each loop. As the process is repeated the loops of cable are formed and the organised cable goes from being a long extended cable to a looped and organised cable that will stay organised until removed from the organiser. The holder enables a somewhat similar movement to be used to the traditional wrapping around the arm but each loop is held in the organiser, and prevented from escape making the process much easier to perform. The organiser can be held in one hand, either left or right, when used and is convenient and intuitive to use. Once organised the cable will remain organised, even if transported in a boat or car the cable will remain tightly held in the two part organiser, to prevent it coming lose. A particularly useful form of the invention is for use to keep caravan or boat cables looped and tidied during travel. The looped cable can then be easily put away for storage with a minimal footprint, and will be kept organised even if moved or picked up, through use of this very clever organiser. The organiser will keep the loops organised indefinitely so when a person returns to the cupboard or shelf where the cable has been stored the cable will be in excellent condition, with no excess bending or damage and ready to be unwound.

[0007] The invention is very well designed for use in a wide range of applications to keep the stored cables organised, but also allow them very easily to be unwound and used. The device has been carefully developed over time to solve this long term problem in a manner that is likely to be well received. The ingenious device is so simple to use, and quick and easy to understand, as it is believed that a complex device would not be well received for use in this particular application. People will use this device as the action is much the same as they are currently using, the looping of the cable, but instead of looping about their hand they loop into the device, which then keeps and holds the loops in place. Further it is important that likewise the unwinding of the cable is equally easy, the process is reversed and quickly the organised cable is unwound and ready for use again. The holding of the organiser means that the unwinding and release of the loops does not occur until the person decided to do so and releases the loops from the organiser.

[0008] The following describes a non-limiting example of the invention being used with reference to an extension cable or cord, as a particularly good example of use of the invention. However, the invention may be used with any long item such as an air supply hose for example, and is not limited to use of an extension cable or cord other than as limited in the claims. Any long item where the invention may be useful may be used with the invention and the configuration adapted accordingly.

[0009] For clarity, any prior art referred to herein, does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge, in Australia or elsewhere.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to provide an organiser apparatus that at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art. It is a further and separate object of the present invention to provide a method of use of an organiser apparatus that at least ameliorates one or more of the aforementioned problems of the prior art.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an organiser for a cord, for use in organising a cord by a hand of a person, the organiser having opposing sides in a resiliently hinged relationship and between which the cable can be received and held, the sides forming therebetween a holding section in which sections of the cable are held, wherein distal ends of each side forms a mouth through which the cord can be received, the mouth constricting to a neck portion having generally parallel sides to provide resistance of passage of the cord through the neck portion and into or out of the holding section.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the neck portion opens into the holding section. Preferably, at a base portion where the sides meet, the organiser flares outwardly to support the cord from an underneath of the cord. The organiser can further include a recess formed in the base portion in which a section of the cord can be received for securing the cord within the organiser.

[0013] The organiser can further include tactile ribs formed on an outer of the base portion to facilitate gripping of the organiser. Preferably, the organiser has an opening formed in and extending through the neck portion for mounting the organiser. Preferably, the distal ends of the sides and a periphery of the neck portion have a generally semicircular shape when viewed normal to the parallel sides of the neck portion.

[0014] The organiser is preferably of unitary construction. In a preferred form, the organiser has an appearance chosen from the following group: coloured; white; black; multicoloured; high-visibility material (Hi-Viz); fluorescent; fluoro-coloured materials; reflective material including coloured reflective materials; or a combination thereof. Preferably, the organiser is made of a high-visibility plastics material.

[0015] Preferably, the organiser is made suitable to hold the cable in the holding section and has sufficient resilience to enable the cable to be pushed from the mouth to the holding section with a push from the hand. Preferably, the cord is an electrical cable. Preferably, the holding section is substantially oval in cross section, as particularly suitable to cradle or hold loops of the cable together but without damage. Preferably, the holding section includes an anchor means for attachment of the cord before looping.

[0016] In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of organising a cable, including the steps of:

[0017] providing an organiser of the type described herein,

[0018] looping the cord and taking a first part of the first loop;

[0019] receiving the first part of the first loop on the mouth of the organiser;

[0020] pulling the first loop part through the neck portion and into the holding section; and

[0021] repeating the above steps with further loops to continue to wind up the cord.

[0022] There is also disclosed herein an organiser for a cord, the organiser including:

[0023] a receiving means for receiving a part of the cord with an opening to receive the cord; and

[0024] a holding means, in communication with the receiving means, to hold the part of the cord received from the receiving means therein,

[0025] wherein the cord can be wound up and parts received in the receiving means and moved to and held in the holding means as a series of loops, and the organiser maintains the loops in the holding means until it is desired to release the cord for use.

[0026] There is also disclosed herein an organiser for a cord, for use by a person to organise a cord by hand, the organiser including:

[0027] a receiving means for receiving a part of the cord, the receiving means including two parts suitably open and spaced at the top to readily receive the cord therewithin, and the two parts being close together at a lower part to substantially prevent passing of the cord from the receiving means to the holding means without further action;

[0028] a holding means, in communication with the receiving means, to hold the part of the cord received from the receiving means therein, and the holding means includes sides and a space therewithin to hold the cord; and

[0029] a resilient juncture including an opening between the receiving means and the holding means, the receiving means and holding means with the resilient juncture between them being made integrally as a substantially single piece, and the resilient juncture opening being sized to prevent the cord from passing through until pushed and the resilient junction having sufficient resilience to enable the cord to be pushed from the receiving means through the opening to the holding means, through the resilient juncture, with a push from the hand,wherein the cord is wound up and parts received in the receiving means and moved to and held in the holding means through pushing through the resilient juncture and opening, and the cord is held in the holding means as a series of loops, and the organiser maintains the loops in the holding means until it is desired to release the cord, the resilient means enabling the cord to be pulled from the receiving means to the holding means readily, but once the cord is pulled into the holding means of the organiser the cord cannot be removed again without being pulled out, by action against the resilient junction, and further wherein the organiser can be held in one hand and the pulling action readily achieved by the other hand.

[0030] Preferably, the organiser enables a long item or cord to be organised for storage or transportation. Preferably, the cord is kept from tangling by use of the invention. Preferably, the organiser receives cord as the organiser is held in the hand and the cord is wound onto the organiser and sequential loops of cords are received in the receiving portion before being held in the holding means whereby the cord is maintained in a looped formation by the organiser. The organiser may take any useful form to keep the cord from tangling and reduce its footprint for storage. Preferably, the organiser organises the cord or long item into a compact looped format that is most convenient for storage. Preferably, the looped cord is suitable to be carried by hand conveniently. Preferably, the looped cord is organised suitably for carrying in a vehicle. The vehicle may be a car, caravan, boat or plane. Preferably, the looped cable can be stored in a tool box. Preferably, the organisation is a neat organisation. Preferably, the organisation is a complete organisation and resists coming apart until the user chooses to release the loops from the organiser. The organiser may be organised suitable to hang on a hook or store similarly in a location. A compatible hook and eye arrangement may be utilised. A handle may be included so that the organiser can be held or hung from the handle in use. The handle may take any suitable shape. The handle may be useful for a range of applications. The handle may form part of the receiving means. The handle may be an extended part of the receiving means. The handle may be a curved and extended part of the receiving means. The curve may be substantially hemispherical, a smaller arc or a larger arc extending beyond 180 degrees. The handle may be an extended and shaped part of the receiving means suitable to be used as a handle. Preferably, the receiving part is be extended in a curve and forms a hook that can be hooked over a structure or part of a vehicle for storage or to carry therewith. The handle can be held in the hand, and or the handle can be used to hold the organiser on a hook or for other storage items. In a preferred form a handle is included in the organiser, with the connected receiving part and handle forming a substantially inverted J-shaped in profile. Preferably, the curved handle is made integrally with the rest of the organiser. In other forms the organiser may be made in separate parts, including a handle.

[0031] In one form, the organiser includes a handle or curved part useful to hook the organiser onto something else. For example the organiser may be attached to the side of a caravan, truck, or hooked over a rod or pipe to store or transport the organiser and organised cord. A most useful application of the invention is to include a curved part to the receiving part of the organiser suitable to hook over a rod or pipe, which may be part of a vehicle or structure and hence attach the organiser thereto. The hook or handle may be used to firmly attach the organiser to the structure or vehicle. The organiser may be used in workshops, factories, households, sheds or other workplaces, anywhere an extension lead, air supply line or other types of cords are used. When attached to a vehicle it may be that the organiser is carried with the vehicle as it moves to transport the organised cord in a convenient manner. The hook or handle may take any suitable form. The hook or handle may be used to conveniently store the organiser and organised cord in a convenient elevated position.

[0032] Preferably, the organiser is made of a suitable plastics material. The organiser may be made of any suitable material. Preferably, the organiser is made substantially of a Polyvinyl Chloride material (“PVC”). The organiser may be made of a suitable recycled plastics material. Any suitable plastics material may be used including engineered plastics materials. The organiser may in some forms be formed substantially of a metal material. The metal material may be aluminium. The organiser may be made of fibreglass. Most preferably, the organiser is highly visible, useful in industrial or mine sites. The organiser may have an appearance chosen from the following group: coloured; white; black; multicoloured; highvisibility material (Hi-Viz); fluorescent; fluoro-coloured materials; reflective material including reflective green, red, orange, purple and pink; or a combination thereof. The organiser may be made in one or more colour or a range of colours that may be useful to distinguish between the products. Preferably, a range of products is produced with different colours used for different sized organisers. These difference sized organisers may be for different purposes, as denoted by the use of different colours. For example, there may be different sizes, or configurations of organiser and this difference can be readily seen through use of standardised different colours. Most preferably, the organiser is made of a high-visibility material. Most preferably, the organiser is made of a high-visibility plastics material. Preferably, the organiser is made suitable to hold the cable in the holding means and has sufficient resilience to enable the cable to be pushed from the receiving means to the holding means with a push from the hand. The organiser is designed to be readily used with no particular strength needed and the push resistance maintains the cable in place. In this way the organiser is one that can be used universally by any one, from children, adults, those with weak hands as only a small force is required to use the organiser.

[0033] Preferably, the cord is any suitable long item. The long item may be an electrical cable. Preferably, the invention is used with an electrical cable. The electrical cable and organiser may be provided together. The organiser may be provided separately. The organiser may include means to keep the organiser attached to the cable so that it is always ready for use. The organiser and cable may be formed integrally in some forms of the invention. The long item may be chosen from the following group: cable; cord; hose; rope or pipe. The size and configuration of the organiser would need to be adjusted to accommodate large long items. Any suitable long item may be used with the invention. The dimensions of the invention may be varied to suit the particular application. Most preferably, the organiser is used with an electrical cable to keep the electrical cable organised in a looped formation. The electrical cable may be a domestic electrical cable. The electrical cable may be more than one electrical cable carried together. The electrical cable may be an industrial electrical cable. The electrical cable may be any suitable cable and the organiser adapted and configured to suit the size of loops and weight of the cables.

[0034] The receiving means may take any suitable form. Preferably, the receiving means includes a resilient means. Preferably, the resilient means is configured so that a loop of cable can be pulled into the receiving means and received through an opening into the holding means. A push action may be used in alternative forms of the organiser. Most preferably, the resilient means enables the loops of cable to be pulled from the receiving means into the holding means readily but once pulled into the organiser cannot be removed again without being pulled out. Preferably, the opening is configured to require the cable to be pulled through and resists the cable being removed without further action. The strength of the resistance and the spacing will be adapted for different width or weights of cables. It is envisaged that a range of organisers will be provided to fit a range of cables. The adaptation may be to allow for smaller or larger cables to readily be received and then held in the organiser than the standard cable. Preferably, a range of organisers will be provided. The range may be a set. The range may be a set of 3, 4, 5, 6 etcetera as appropriate. Preferably, the organiser is provided in colour. A range of colour coded organisers may be provided. The colours may be tailored to a particular market, for example to match caravans or may be for fun such as football colours. Any suitable colour combinations may be used. The range may be colour coded for ease of use such as at a mine or industrial site to ensure that the correct organiser appropriate for the size of cable is used. More than one cable can be stored in a single organiser where the size is appropriate. In other forms of the invention a single cable may be used with a single organiser. This may depend on the length of the cable where a long cable may fill the organiser but several short cables could be used with the same cable organiser.

[0035] Most preferably, the resilient means is a plastics material with sufficient bend or resilience to open up sufficiently to allow the cable into the holding means when pressed through the pulling action of the cable or cord. The resilient means may be made of PVC. The organiser may be made substantially of PVC and the configuration enables the PVC to form the resilient part of the organiser between the receiving means and the holding means. Other materials such as other plastics, metal, composite or a fibreglass material may be used instead. Preferably, the opening is configured to only allow the cable through once pulled to make the opening bigger. Other forms of putting the cable from the receiving means to the holding means may be used instead. Clips or other forms of opening and closing could be used in inferior forms of the invention. Preferably, the resilience is sufficient to allow the cable to be readily pulled down into the holding means, but is not so loose that the loops could easily fall out. There is a balance to ease of use and holding the loops in place. Additional holding can be included through additional clips or loops as required, but in the main the organiser itself has sufficient hold on the loops to prevent escape. It is a most advantageous feature of the organiser that the person can hold the organiser in the usually manner they would loop cable, but as they loop it they pass it from the receiving means, through the resilient means into the holding means whereby the loops are held together, ready for use later. The end of the cable or cord may be passed through a final loop to assist to hold in place. There may also be a hole in the organiser through which an end of the cord can be passed to help to hold in place.

[0036] Preferably, the receiving means is in the form of two parts and the cable is slid between the two parts. More than two parts may be included in other forms of the invention or single integral part with a gap may be used instead. Most preferably, two parts are included and the two parts curve away from one another to facilitate the receipt of the cable. Preferably, the two parts are suitably resilient such that a cable or the like can be pulled longitudinally between them and the opening opens up enough to receive the cable into the holding part. The two parts are suitably open and spaced at the top, but close to the holding part the two parts are much closer together. It is through the close together parts that the cable will need to be pulled. On release the cable can be readily pulled up and out in the same way. The design has been carefully made to make the stages easy but effective. The pulling of the cable may be from the left or the right. Preferably, the organiser can be held in one hand and the pulling action readily achieved. In other forms of the invention an alternative action may be used. In other forms of the invention there may a pushing action. Preferably, the receiving part and the holding part are made integrally for increased strength with the hole between them through which the cable is pulled to maintain each loop in place. It is at the junction between the receiving part and the holding part that the cable is pulled through.

[0037] Preferably, the holding means and receiving means are formed as two sides with a narrow space between them for receiving the cable and preventing the then held cable from leaving the holding means. The holding means may take any suitable form. Preferably, the holding means is substantially oval in cross-section, as particularly suitable to cradle or hold the loops of cable together, but without damage. Preferably, the holding means includes substantially curved sides and a space therewithin to hold the cable. Preferably, the holding means is configured of a strong plastics material suitable to hold the weight of the cable. The strong plastics material may be PVC. Any suitable alternative material may be used instead including composite, fibreglass, engineered materials, metal or plastics. The dimensions and materials of the organiser apparatus may be varied to suit the particular use to be made, for example a small version for fine cables such as headphone cables and a larger version for small industrial cables, where a reel is not used. The organiser will have numerous useful applications and as such will be made in a number of forms suitable for these different uses. Preferably, the holding means includes an anchor means for attachment of the cable. The anchor means may take any suitable form. The anchor means may include threading the cable or other long item through part of the holding means to maintain in place. Any suitable anchoring may be used instead. The anchor means may be a clip. The anchor means may be a clip open uppermost to enable a part of the cable to be pushed in and held. The cable may be made integrally with the organiser in some forms so that part of the cable is attached to the remainder of the organiser. This may be a tight integral form or a detached form where the organiser may interfere with the usual use of the cable.

[0038] Preferably, a hole is included suitable to receive an end of the cable therethrough after looping to hold the end of cable in place in the organiser. The hole may be replaced with any suitable form of clip or holder to hold the end of the cable. Most preferably, the handle or receiving part includes a central aperture and an end of the cable is put through the hole after looping and holding in the holding means to hold the organiser in place. The aperture may be size suitable to receive one or more plug. The configuration will be adapted to some extent to the cable.

[0039] Visibility of the organiser may be useful to be able to locate easily. The visibility may be through use of Hi-Viz, reflective materials or LEDs. Any of these can be incorporated into the outer part of the organiser to help make the organiser to see. A reflective material may be useful when looking to find the organiser in a storage box that may be dark for example.

[0040] The electrical cord could be replaced by any similar cable or rope, extending the usefulness of the invention to many domestic uses.

[0041] There is also disclosed herein an organiser and electrical cable provided together, the organiser and electrical cable including:

[0042] an electrical cable;

[0043] a receiving means for receiving a part of the cable with an opening to receiver the cable; and

[0044] a holding means, in communication with the receiving means, to hold the part of the cable from the receiving means therein,

[0045] wherein the cable can be wound up and parts received in the receiving means and held in the holding means as a series of loops, and the organiser maintains the loops in the holding means until released.

[0046] Preferably, an anchor point is included and the cable is anchored to the organiser before use.

[0047] The release may be a manual release, to push or pull out. The release of the loops may be through a clip or button release in other forms of the invention.

[0048] There is also disclosed herein an organiser for an electrical cord, the organiser including:

[0049] a receiving means for receiving a part of the electrical cord with an expandable or resilient opening to receive the cord therethrough; and

[0050] a holding means, in communication with the receiving means and expandable or resilient opening, to receive the electrical cable therefrom and to hold the part of the electrical cord as part of a loop is received,

[0051] wherein the electrical cord can be wound up and parts received in the receiving means and held in the holding means as a series of loops, and the organiser maintains the loops in the holding means until released, the organiser and cord being provided together.

[0052] Accordingly, a two part receiving means for receiving a part of the electrical cord with an expandable or resilient opening to receiver the cord therethrough; a handle formed from part of the receiving means for hooking the organiser and organised cord to a structure or vehicle; and

[0053] a holding means, in communication with the receiving means and expandable or resilient opening, to receive the electrical cable therefrom and to hold the part of the electrical cord as part of a loop is received,

[0054] wherein the electrical cord can be wound up and parts received in the receiving means and held in the holding means as a series of loops, and the organiser maintains the loops in the holding means until released and can be hooked over something for storage or to be carried with a vehicle.

[0055] There is also disclosed herein a method of use of an organiser apparatus for organising a cord or cable, the organiser apparatus including a receiving means and holding means with an expandable or resilient opening between them to receive a looped electrical cord or cable, the method including the following steps:

[0056] a) looping the cord or cable and taking a first part of the first loop;

[0057] b) receiving the first part of the first loop in the receiving means;

[0058] c) pulling the first loop part through the resilient opening into the holding means;

[0059] d) repeating steps a) to c) with further loops to continue to wind up the cord or cable until it is fully wound up and organised.

[0060] The method may include the further step of engaging the cord or cable with the anchor point of the organiser before use. The method may be used by pulling to the left or the right. The end of the cord or cable may be engaged through a hole to hold in place after looping. The release may be through reversing the process.

[0061] The method may be used with the invention in any of its forms or variants.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0062] The invention will now be described in connection with a non-limiting preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0063] FIG. 1 is a perspective view an organiser, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention with the cable omitted for ease of illustration;

[0064] FIGS. 2 to 5 are respective front, side, bottom and top views of the organiser of FIG. 1;

[0065] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another organiser; and

[0066] FIGS. 7 to 10 are respective front, side, bottom and top view of the organiser of FIG. 6.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS INCLUDING A BEST METHOD

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, one embodiment of the invention will be described, where organiser 10, has body 12 formed of opposing sides 14a, 14b with a holding section 16 and a mouth 18. The body may be considered to be generally clam shaped and opposing sides 14a, 14b are resiliently hinged. The whole organiser is made of a high-viz recycled plastics PVC material. The plastics material is designed to be easily seen, useful for mine site or industrial applications as well as for domestic use. The plastic is strong but suitably resilient to enable the cable to be pulled into the organiser and held as described in further detail below. Body 12 has two opposing sides 14a and 14b and it is between these sides that the length of a loop of cable may be put, during use of the organiser. At a base portion 30 where the sides 24a, 24b meet the body 12 flares or widens outwardly, as can be seen in FIG. 2, to support the cord from underneath of the cord. The cord is thereby supported along an increased length of the cord. Alternative shapes and forms of the invention may be used instead, however the illustrated shape and design of FIG. 1 is of particular convenience for use to the left or right and to be held comfortably in one hand.

[0068] Anchor 20, which in this form of the invention is a pair of holes for receipt of loops to hold the cable is useful to give a stable format to the invention by holding the end of the cable. The anchoring and use of the invention may be readily made to the left or right. When the invention is used as a retro fit to existing cables as described here, the anchoring will need to occur before use. It may then be useful to have a number of organisers each for a cable to be organised. In another form of the invention the cable will be supplied with the organiser installed ready for use. In this form where the cord and organiser are sold together the configuration will include connection or anchoring of an end part of the cable suitable for use. Variations to these forms of the invention may be made as appropriate.

[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 3, between mouth 18 and the holding section 16 is a neck portion 22. The neck portion 22 has spaced apart and generally parallel sides 24a, 24b that form a constriction and the cord passes between the parallel sides 24a, 24b, the sides 24a, 24b contacting the cord and providing resistance to passage. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the amount of resistance is proportional to the size of the cord, the distance between sides 24a, 24b and the resilience of the material. A section of the loop of cable is gently pulled through the neck portion 22 as the person forms the loops of cord or cable in the usual manner, so that it is held in the holding part in the loop formation. Whereas a person may wind the cable around their hand, this process can be repeated by organise use of the resilient plastic means the opening expands when pressed to receive the loop part into holding section 16. Holding section 16 is configured to be suitable to receive the multiple loops of cable repeatedly until the whole cable is wound up. Different sized spaces and holding sections could be used.

[0070] Distal ends of the sides 24a, 24b, as seen in side view such as that of FIG. 2, have a semicircular shape, as does a periphery of the neck portion. This allows the cord to be supported along a length of the periphery of the neck portion, within the mouth 18 prior to the cord being drawn into the holding section 16.

[0071] The cable can be one or more electrical cable but any long item, such as a hose, material cord or cable can be beneficially used with the invention. The anchor longitudinally across the base of body 12 helps to set the loops in place and keep them in place. As each loop is formed by a person these are fed through the receiving portion, pulled into the holding portion and stack one loop on the other with the rest of the loop hanging down below.

[0072] Hole 26 may be adapted for use once the looping is complete to hold the end of the cable. For example, a loop of the cable may be fed through the hole and secured by passing a plug or socket therethrough. Other forms of securing may be used instead. Organiser 10 is ergonomically designed with shaping or tactile ribbing 28 to fit comfortably in the hand for repeated use. Different shapes and configurations may be used instead. Once the comfortable use is complete end of cable (plug or socket) can be put through hole 26 and is held in place, as further support to maintain the loops, in a looped formation.

[0073] Two cables may be installed in the organiser, with the two sockets being accessible and with loops of the cables hanging in an organised fashion below. Although not shown in the Figures, and end socket or the plug can be put through hole 26 to hold in place. The organiser can be a very neat way to capture, store and keep organised for cables, and solve a long term problem of the art.

[0074] After the easy use and looping of the cable, this compact organiser and cable can be easily stored, carried in one hand and otherwise usefully handled. Anchor 20 may be used to hold the loops of cord within the organiser, but in an advanced form a hook or handle will be included to install or mount the organiser. In one preferred form the mouth 18 may be extended in a curve and form a hook that can be hooked over a rod or pipe. The firm hooking can then be used to hold the looped cord and organiser together for storage, such as attached to as a structure, or can be hooked onto the side of a vehicle or caravan and be carried therewith. The form of hook or handle may be varied to suit particular applications.

[0075] Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 to 10. In this regard, organiser 110 includes has body 112 formed of opposing sides 114a, 114b with a holding section 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 preceding description of these features is intended to apply.

[0076] Organiser 110 differs from organiser 10 in that at a base portion 130, the sides widen at the base portion and have a greater flare, as can be seen in FIG. 7. This flared portion allows for better support of the cord received in the holding section and also includes retention means 132 in which a section of the cord can be received and secured in place. Owing to the resilience of the material, the retention means can releasably engage the cord to secure it in place as required.

[0077] The invention is a significant improvement over the prior art and likely to be well received in any number of relevant industries.INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0078] The organiser can be manufactured industrially and supplied to customers direct, or to wholesalers or retailers.

[0079] It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that changes may be made to the embodiments disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its various aspects.REFERENCE SIGNS LIST10, 110 Organiser

[0081] 12, 112 Body

[0082] 14a / 14b, 114a / 114b Sides

[0083] 16,116 Holding Section

[0084] 18, 118 Mouth

[0085] 20, 120 Anchor

[0086] 22, 122 Neck portion

[0087] 24a / 24b, 124a, 124b Parallel sides

[0088] 26 / 126 Hole

[0089] 28, 128 Tactile ribbing

[0090] 30, 130 Base portion

[0091] 132 retention means

Claims

1. An organiser for a cord, for use in organising a cord by a hand of a person, the organiser having opposing sides in a resiliently hinged relationship and between which the cable can be received and held, the sides forming therebetween a holding section in which sections of the cable are held, wherein distal ends of each side forms a mouth through which the cord can be received, the mouth constricting to a neck portion having generally parallel sides to provide resistance of passage of the cord through the neck portion and into or out of the holding section.

2. The organiser of claim 1, wherein the neck portion opens into the holding section.

3. The organiser of claim 1, wherein at a base portion where the sides meet, the organiser flares or widens outwardly to support the cord from an underneath of the cord.

4. The organiser of claim 3, further including a recess formed in the base portion in which a section of the cord can be received for securing the cord within the organiser.

5. The organiser of claim 3, further including tactile ribs formed on an outer of the base portion to facilitate gripping of the organiser.

6. The organiser of claim 1, having an opening formed in and extending through the neck portion for mounting the organiser.

7. The organiser of claim 1, wherein the distal ends of the sides and a periphery of the neck portion have a generally semicircular shape when viewed normal to the parallel sides of the neck portion.

8. The organiser of claim 1, being of unitary construction.

9. The organiser of claim 1, wherein the organiser has an appearance chosen from the following group: coloured; white; black; multicoloured; high-visibility material (Hi-Viz); fluorescent; fluoro-coloured materials; reflective material including coloured reflective materials; or a combination thereof.

10. The organiser of claim 1, wherein the organiser is made of a high-visibility plastics material.

11. The organiser of claim 1, wherein the organiser is made suitable to hold the cable in the holding means and has sufficient resilience to enable the cable to be pushed from the receiving means to the holding means with a push from the hand.

12. The organiser of claim 1, wherein the cord is an electrical cable.

13. The organiser of claim 1, wherein the holding section is substantially oval in cross section, as particularly suitable to cradle or hold loops of the cable together but without damage.

14. The organiser of claim 1, wherein the holding section includes an anchor means for attachment of the cord before looping.

15. A method of organising a cable, including the steps of:providing an organiser according to claim 1,looping the cord and taking a first part of the first loop;receiving the first part of the first loop on the mouth of the organiser;pulling the first loop part through the neck portion and into the holding section; andrepeating the above steps with further loops to continue to wind up the cord.

16. A method of organising a cable, including the steps of:providing an organiser according to claim 2,looping the cord and taking a first part of the first loop;receiving the first part of the first loop on the mouth of the organiser;pulling the first loop part through the neck portion and into the holding section; andrepeating the above steps with further loops to continue to wind up the cord.

17. A method of organising a cable, including the steps of:providing an organiser according to claim 3,looping the cord and taking a first part of the first loop;receiving the first part of the first loop on the mouth of the organiser;pulling the first loop part through the neck portion and into the holding section; andrepeating the above steps with further loops to continue to wind up the cord.

18. The organiser of claim 2, wherein at a base portion where the sides meet, the organiser flares or widens outwardly to support the cord from an underneath of the cord.

19. The organiser of claim 18, further including a recess formed in the base portion in which a section of the cord can be received for securing the cord within the organiser.

20. The organiser of claim 19, further including tactile ribs formed on an outer of the base portion to facilitate gripping of the organiser.

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