(1) Field of the Invention

THIS INVENTION relates to a coiled sheath for electrical cords. (The term "electrical cords" shall include electrical appliance cords, electrical extension cords or leads, electronic communication cords or the like. )

(2) Prior Art Electrical cords cause a number of problems.

In use, cords are generally longer than the distance between the power outlet and the appliance (eg. electric jug, toaster and iron) and so must be draped or pushed out of the way on the bench. When not in use, they are untidy and difficult to store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, efficient means to maintain electrical cords in a tidy, easy to use configuration. It is a preferred object to provide such a means where the cords are coiled for easy storage but can be easily extended to the full length in use.

Other preferred objects will become apparent from the following description. In a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a coiled • sheath for electrical cords (as hereinbefore defined) including: a tubular body, of resiliently flexible material, at least a portion of which is wound into a spiral or coiled configuration; and an elongate slit along the body; so arranged that the tubular body may be placed as a sheath around an electrical cord to cause the cord to adopt the spiral or coiled configuration, while permitting the cord to be extended to its full length.

Preferably, the tubular body iε formed of plastics material (eg. of the type used to produce the standard outer sheath on appliance cords) and preferably the body is formed with the spiral or coiled configuration along its length.

The slit may be applied to the body (eg. by extrusion or cutting) before the body is formed into the spiral or coiled configuration.

If preferred, clips or ties may be provided around the sheath adjacent each end to prevent the slit from "springing" and releasing the cord from the sheath.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To enable the invention to be fully understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG 1 is an isometric view showing the sheath fitted to a toaster cord (or lead) and on an extrusion cord (or lead) ;

FIG 2 is a side perspective view of the sheath;

FIG 3 is an isometric view showing the sheath being fitted to an electrical cord;

FIG 4 is a schematic view of the method of producing the coiled sheath; and FIG 5 iε a top plan view showing the sheath being wound onto a mandrel.

Referring to FIG. 1, the sheath 10 iε εhown fitted to an electric toaster cord 11 and an extenεion lead 12, the plugε 13, 14 of which are plugged into a general power outlet (GPO) 15.

Referring to FIG. 2, the εheath 10 haε a reεiliently flexible plaεticε tubular body 16, wound into a spiral or coiled configuration, with an elongate slit 17 about its outer periphery. (Aε εhown in FIG. 1, the toaεter cord 11 and extenεion lead 12 are visible through the slit 17. )

To instal the sheath 10, one end is placed adjacent the plug 13, 14 (or socket) of the toaster cord 11 or extension lead 12 and the slit 17 iε opened to enable the cord or lead to be received with the tubular body 16. The εlit 17 is progressively opened along the body 16, the cord or lead inserted, and the slit 17 partially closed about the cord or lead as it is progressively enclosed within the sheath 10.

The sheath 10 causeε the cord 11 or lead 12 to adopt itε εpiral or coiled configuration (see FIG. 1) but enables them to be stretched to their full usable length when required. The result is a tidy, compact cord or lead with a pleasing aesthetic appeal.

To prevent the slit 17 from opening and releasing the cord 11 or lead 12 from the end(s) of the sheath 10, clips or ties (not εhown) may be provided about the εheath, eg. l-2cm from the end.

Referring now to FIGS 4 and 5, the method of manufacturing the εheath 10 will now be deεcribed. The εheath 10, formed from polyethylene tube, is drawn from a supply roll 20 past a knife 21 (or rotary cutter) which forms the slit 17 in the εheath.

The now-εlitted εheath is drawn through a bath of glycerine 22 at, eg. 125°C (ie. above the forming temperature of polyethylene which iε approximately

110°C) so that the sheath becomes stretchable but itε cylindrical shape does not collapse.

The heated sheath 10 is fed through a block 23 in which a core 24 (eg. a length of TV co-axial antenna cable) on a convergent path is inserted into the sheath

10 and the combination is wound onto a rotating mandrel

25.

The sheath 10 cools below the forming temperature and takes up the coiled shape generated by the mandrel 26. The core 24 is stripped from the sheath 10, which iε cut to length by a knife 26.

Referring now to FIG 5, the block 23 haε a bullet-like nose 30 which enters the slit 17 and which co-operates with wings 31, 32 to assist in the core 24 being fed into the sheath 10. A roller 33 presses the core 24 into the sheath 10.

One end of the core 24 iε anchored to the mandrel 25 by a screw 34 and the sheath 10 and core 24 are pulled onto the mandrel 25 by the rotation of the latter, the sheath 10 being wound into the valleys 35 of the mandrel 25. The block 23 iε mounted on a rod 36 parallel to the axeε of the mandrel 25 and a finger 37 on the blade 23 engages the mandrel 25 to move the block 23 along the rod 36 to ensure correct feeding of the sheath 10 (and core 24) onto the mandrel 25. Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.