TANGLE FREE LEAD Leads of all types have long since been prone to tangles and knots whilst in general use, or unwinding from a bundle. Hand wound long extension leads for instance are especially vulnerable to this problem, and in the event of tangles occurring, the user will be required to untangle the said lead, which may result in loss of time, and possible frustration.

It is the objective of the present invention to provide a tangle free lead or other, that will overcome or at least substantially ameliorate aforementioned problem of the prior art, providing a lead that is resistant to tangling, and has an integrated storage arrangement without resorting to reels or cradles that can be bulky, cumbersome, and take up room.

In one form of the invention, a tangle free lead in accordance with this arrangement comprising an extension lead, sleeves extending longitudinally along part of the extension lead and held in place by retainers, leaving sections of the extension lead exposed, such that the lead may only fold at predetermined points.

The sleeves of the tangle free lead may comprise a member of any forra, for example sheaths or rods wherein the said member provides the lead some rigidity greater than the said lead. The said members may rely on a retaining means, spacers or be self retaining to maintain their position along the said lead. Said members may be retro fitted and vary in length or can be a continual length that incorporates the ability to fold at predetermined points. The said members may be applied in any shape or be made of any type of material. The said lead may be free to rotate within the said member or the said member may be incorporated as part of the said lead's outer casing. In another preferred form, the lead may have members imbedded in its core, for example rods, sheathes, sleeves or alike, being in a segment followed by a gap, or as a continual member that incorporates the said ability to fold at predetermined points.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings m which:- Fig 1 js a view of a first preferred tangle free lead. Fig 2 is a sectioned view of a seoond preferred tangle free lead. Fig 3 is a view of a first preferred tangle free lead bundle.

The tangle free lead 7 Fig 1 comprises of an extension lead 4, several sleeves 5, and sleeve retainers 6, the extension lead 4 Js inserted through the Sleeves 5 at set spacing from one another and retained in position by sleeve retainers o\

In use, a storage system is applied as the tangle free lead 7 may be easily bundled up in an ordered form by means of the sleeves 5 providing semi ridged lengths along tixe extension lead 4 resulting in it folding back on itself at predetermined points, allowing the extension lead 4 to be folded up in increments to form a neat bundle 10 Fig 3 making it extremely unlikely for it to tangle.

When the tangle free lead 7 is to be used, and one emd is withdrawn from the bundle 10, the extension lead 4 will generally come away from the bundle 10 one segment at a time, resulting from the sleeves 5 keeping set segments of the extension lead 4 more ridged, therefore reducing the opportunity for the extension lead 4 to loop back on itself, minimising tangling, wherein preventing knots from occurring. In general use, the sleeves 5 prevent tangles and knots from occurring as, tine said sleeves 5 minimise the extension lead 4 from looping back on itself in a manner wherein the opportunity for tangling and knotting is virtually eliminated.

The tangle free lead 8 shown in Fig 2, has many similar features to the above described tangle free lead 7 (and so similar features in Fig 2 will be accorded the same numerals as those accorded in Fig 1 & 3) except that the tangle free lead 8 in Fig 2 has rods 9 in place of the sleeves 5.

The tangle free lead 8 acts much in the same way as the tangle free lead 7 Fig 1 & lead bundle 10 fig 3, in that the rods 9 provide an element of rigidity within the extension lead 4, resulting in all the benefits of the sleeves 5 except they are imbedded within the extension lead 4.

In use, the tangle free lead 8 may be easily bundled up in an ordered form by means of the rods 9 providing semi ridged lengths along the extension lead 4, resulting in it folding back on itself at predetermined points, allowing me extension lead 4 to be folded up in even increments to form a neat bundle one similar to that of bundle 10 Fig 3, making it extremely unlikely for it to tangle.

When the tangle free lead 8 is to be used, and one end of the extension lead 4 is withdrawn, the same principle applies to that of the bundle 10 in Fig 3 in that the extension lead 4 will come away from the bundle 10 section by section as the rods 9 provide set segments of rigidity in the extension lead 4 so it has very little opportunity for it to loop back on itself, and therefore preventing knots and tangles from occurring. Various modifications may be made in details of design, construction and application without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention. For example, semi flexible rods may be imbedded in a rope for tying down items, or sleeves used for head phone leads whereupon they will gain the benefit of being tangle free when in general use.