Cable management spool

[0002] Various holders have been developed for storing electrical lines and the like. For example, UK Patent Document 2,145,393A discloses a cable reel including a hub and a resiliently deformable lip member to retain a cable wound on the hub. Other spools, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,873,540 include upper and lower extents that have central tube portions interconnected in an adjustable manner. U.S. Pat. No. 2,319,731 discloses a cord holder having shell portions that are telescopically engaged. Gomberg U.S. Pat. No. 2,533,731 discloses a bobbin for knitting yarn and the like having two members that are generally disk shaped, and can be moved between “closed” or “normal” relationships relative to one another.

[0003] One aspect of the present invention is a cable management spool for storing a length of cable. The cable management spool includes first and second rigid outer members that are movable relative to each other and define a gap of variable size therebetween. An intermediate member has at least one flexible flap, and the intermediate member is disposed between the first and second rigid outer members. The spool includes a spooling portion between the first and second outer members, wherein the spooling portion is adapted to have a length of cable wound about the spooling portion. The intermediate member is movable relative to at least one of the first and second rigid outer members, and the at least one flap substantially occupies the gap between the first and second rigid outer members to substantially conceal the length of cable.

[0004] Another aspect of the present invention is a cable management spool for storing a length of cable. The cable management spool includes first and second rigid outer members, each having an extension member and wherein the extension members are telescopingly engaged with one another and define a central spooling portion. A flexible member is disposed circumferentially about the central spooling member and has at least one flap member extending from outer peripheral edge of the flexible member. The flexible member is disposed between the first and second outer members. A length of cable can be pressed through the flexible member, and is wound about the central spooling portion.

[0005] Yet another aspect of the present invention is a cable management spool including a pair of disk-like spaced apart housing members defining a gap therebetween. Each of the housing members defines an annular peripheral edge. A spooling portion extends between and interconnects the housing members, and the spooling portion is adapted to permit winding of a line about the spooling portion. An annular flexible flap extends across at least a substantial portion of the gap adjacent the peripheral edges of the housing members.

[0006] These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a workspace including a cable management spool according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0008] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cable management spool of FIG. 1;

[0009] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cable management spool of FIG. 1 taken along the line III—III, showing the cable spool in the expanded configuration;

[0010] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cable management spool of FIG. 3 showing the cable management spool in the collapsed configuration;

[0011] FIG. 5 is a partially fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the cable management spool of FIG. 1 showing the mounting of the cable management spool on a slatwall; and

[0012] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the cable management spool of the present invention that is taken from substantially the same perspective as FIG. 3.

[0013] For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

[0014] The reference numeral 1 (FIG. 1) generally designates a cable management spool embodying the present invention, which may be utilized in offices, and other similar settings and environments. In the illustrated example, cable management spool 1 includes first and second rigid members 2 and 3 that are made of a polymer material and are movable relative to each other and define a gap 9 (see also FIG. 3) of variable size therebetween. An intermediate member 4 (FIG. 2) is made of an elastomeric material including first and second flexible flaps 5 and 6, and the intermediate member 4 is disposed between the first and second rigid outer members 2 and 3 when assembled. With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a spooling portion 7 between the first and second outer members 2 and 3 is adapted to have a length of cable 8 wound about the spooling portion 7. The intermediate member 4 is movable relative to at least one of the first and second rigid outer members 2 and 3, and the flaps 5 and 6 substantially occupy the gap 9 to conceal the length of cable 8 in the cable management spool 1.

[0015] The first rigid member 2 includes a disk-like body portion 10, and the second rigid member 3 includes a disk-like body portion 11. Rigid members 2 and 3 are made of a polymer material. The rigid member 2 includes an annular flange 12, and the second rigid member 3 includes an annular flange 13. When assembled, the annular flanges 12 and 13 extend towards one another adjacent the first and second peripheral edges 14 and 15 of the first and second rigid outer members 2 and 3, respectively. First rigid member 2 includes a generally cylindrical, tubular extension 16 (FIG. 2) that telescopically engages a second cylindrical extension 17 of the second rigid member 3 to telescopically interconnect the first and second rigid outer members 2 and 3. A key or protrusion 18 of extension 17 is received in a groove or cutout 19 of cylindrical extension 16 to prevent rotation of the first rigid member 2 relative to the second rigid member 3. A pair of flanges 20 extend from the disk-like body portion 10 of first rigid member 2 to provide a surface for winding of the cables, thus preventing contact and/or interference of the cable 8 with the inter-engaging of the cylindrical extensions 16 and 17. The second rigid member 3 includes an outer annular flange 21 and an inner annular flange 22. Flanges 21 and 22 each have a generally tubular cylindrical shape and extend away from the disk-like body portion 11 around the cylindrical extension 17. The generally cylindrical extension 17 of second rigid member 3 includes a pair of opposed flexible prongs or extensions 25, each having a barb 26 adjacent the end thereof. The first rigid member 2 includes a pair of elongated slot like openings 27, and the first and second rigid members 3 can be assembled by pushing the members 2 and 3 together such that the barbs 26 snap into engagement with the openings 27. The barbs 26 contact the ends 28 of the openings 27 when in the fully extended position (FIG. 3) to prevent disassembly of the rigid members 2 and 3.

[0016] Flexible intermediate member 4 includes a center connecting portion 30 having an elongated keyway 31 that receives the key or protrusion 18 of second rigid member 3. The keyway 31 ensures that the intermediate member 4 does not rotate relative to the first and second rigid members 2 and 3, yet permits axial sliding motion of the intermediate member relative to the first and second rigid members 2 and 3. The center connecting portion 30 of intermediate member 4 includes a cylindrical flange 32 (FIG. 3) that is received between the flanges 21 and 22 of second rigid member 3 when assembled. A second generally cylindrical flange 33 extends from a disk-like center portion 34 of intermediate member 4. The cylindrical portion 33 includes a larger diameter portion 36 directly adjacent the disk-like portion 34, and a smaller diameter end portion 35. The smaller and larger diameter portions 35 and 36 form a step 37. Cylindrical extension 16 of rigid member 2 includes four barbed end portions 38. When assembled, the barbs 38 are engageable with the step 37 of cylindrical portion 33.

[0017] First and second rigid members 2 and 3 slidably engage one another, such that the cable management spool 1 can be shifted between the fully extended configuration of FIG. 3, or collapsed to the fully retracted configuration illustrated in FIG. 4. The first and second rigid members 2 and 3 may also be positioned in a range of partially collapsed configurations between the configurations illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. If the cable management spool 1 is being expanded from the configuration of FIG. 4 to the configuration of FIG. 3, the contact of the barbs 38 against the step 37 will cause the intermediate member 4 to shift, thereby maintaining the intermediate member 4 at a centered position between the rigid members 2 and 3. Conversely, if the cable management spool 1 is being collapsed from the configuration of FIG. 3 to the configuration of FIG. 4, the first rigid member 2 will shift towards the member 3 without moving the intermediate member 4, until end edge 39 of the cylindrical portion 33 contacts inner surface 40 of first rigid member 2. Further shifting of the rigid members 2 and 3 towards one another will cause the intermediate member 4 to shift towards the second rigid member 3 due to the contact of the end edge 39 with the inner surface 40 of rigid member 2. The cable management spool 1 thereby provides a pair of side-by-side generally cylindrical first and second cable storage cavities 41 and 42, respectively, the size of each of which can be selectively varied. The arrangement described in detail above also ensures that the intermediate member 4 remains generally centered between the rigid members 2 and 3, thereby ensuring that the first and second cable storage cavities 41 and 42 are about the same size, regardless of whether the cable management spool is in the fully extended configuration of FIG. 3, or the fully collapsed configuration of FIG. 4, or an intermediate partially collapsed configuration.

[0018] Intermediate member 4 includes a cutout 43 (FIG. 2) through which the cables 8 may extend to permit routing of the cables 8 from the cavities 41 and 42 to the exterior of the cable management spool 1, without requiring flexing of the first and second flaps 5 and 6 of intermediate member 4. Also, a single cable 8 may be routed through cutout 43, such that a first end of the cable extends out of cavity 41, and a second end extends out of cavity 42. With further reference to FIG. 5, second rigid member 3 includes a hook 45 that engages a lip 62 of a conventional slatwall 44 that is mounted to a conventional partition 50 in a known manner. Slatwall 44 includes a plurality of elongated slots 60 defined by T-shaped members 61 having upwardly extending lips 62 and downwardly extending lips 63. Rigid member 3 includes a leg 47 having a small lip or bead 48. The cable management spool 1 can thereby be assembled to the slatwall 44 by first engaging the hook 44 on a lip 62, and the cable management spool 1 is then rotated downwardly until the lip 48 snaps over lower edge 49 of a lip 63. The cable management spool 1 may also be positioned in a horizontal orientation resting on a worksurface 51. A support leg 52 extends from the disk-like portion 11 of rigid member 3, such that the cable management spool 1 can be stably supported on the worksurface 51 due to the contact of the hook 45 and leg 52 on the worksurface 51.

[0019] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the cable management spool 1 may be mounted to a slatwall 44 in a workspace 55 defined by a conventional partition 50. Electrical power lines 8 may be routed from a conventional power receptacle 56 to supply power to electrically powered items such as a printer 57, a tasklight 58, or computer monitor 59. The electrical lines or cables 8 may be wound around the cable management spool 1 by flexing of the flaps 5 and/or 6. The flaps 5 and 6 conceal the cables disposed in the storage cavities 41 and 42. The flaps 5 and 6 also prevent inadvertent unwinding of the cables 8. The elongated keyway 31 of intermediate member 4 and the key 18 of second rigid member 3 ensure that the cutout 43 of intermediate member 4 is always positioned downwardly when the cable management spool 1 is mounted on a slatwall 44 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus, the power lines 8 can be routed through the cutout 43 without requiring flexing of the flaps 5 and 6. Also data/phone lines may also be stored utilizing cable management spool 1. For example, power lines could be stored in cavity 41, and data/phone lines could be simultaneously stored in cavity 42.

[0020] The cable management spool 1 provides a pair of storage cavities, such that a plurality of electrical and/or data lines can be simultaneously stored on the spool 1 without the electrical lines 8 becoming entangled with one another. Furthermore, the cable management spool 1 can be extended and retracted to adjust the size of the storage cavities as required for a particular size and/or length of cable. Still further, the flexible intermediate member shifts as the outer members 2 and 3 are shifted relative to one another, thereby ensuring that the first and second storage cavities 41 and 42 remain approximately the same size. The cable management spool 1 can be quickly and easily snapped onto a slatwall, and the snap-attachment of the cable management spool 1 to the slatwall prevents inadvertent dislodgment of the cable management spool 1 from the slatwall 44. Alternately, the cable management spool 1 can be abuttingly supported on a worksurface 51, and the configuration of the hook 45 and support leg 52 ensures that the cable management spool 1 remains stable and horizontal.

[0021] FIG. 6 illustrates a second embodiment 1A of the cable management spool of the present invention. FIG. 6 is taken from substantially the same perspective as FIG. 3. The second embodiment 1A is substantially similar to the first embodiment 1, except that the outer surface 65 of rigid member 2A has a convex curved annular outer surface 67, and rigid member 3A includes an outer surface 66 having an annular convex curve 68. Thus, rigid members 2A and 3A have a shallow, bowl-like outer surface shape. Also, the second embodiment 1A does not include the support leg 52 of the first embodiment, flanges 20, or outer annular flange 21. Therefore, cable 8A wraps around cylindrical portions 32A, 35A and 36A. Other than these differences, the features of the second embodiment 1A are substantially similar to the those of the first embodiment, and corresponding features of the two embodiments utilize the same part members, except that the letter “A” has been added to distinguish the features of the second embodiment from those of the first. Because the telescoping function, as well as the positioning and operation of the flexible intermediate member 4A of the second embodiment 1A of the cable management spool are substantially the same as described above for the first embodiment, these features will not be described in detail herein.

[0022] In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.