초록 ▼

A device which may be mounted to a vertical substrate, and which is useful as a rack for storing flexible conduits, such as wires, cables, hoses and the like in an orderly fashion during their non-use. A device according to the invention comprises a main backbone portion, to which a plurality of fin

A device which may be mounted to a vertical substrate, and which is useful as a rack for storing flexible conduits, such as wires, cables, hoses and the like in an orderly fashion during their non-use. A device according to the invention comprises a main backbone portion, to which a plurality of fingers are attached. The backbone portion is substantially-linear in a preferred embodiment, and is mounted with its longest length dimension in a vertical orientation. Successive loops of a flexible conduit are looped around successive fingers of the device to provide neat and orderly stowage of otherwise cumbersome conduits. A device according to the invention is especially well-suited for storing garden hoses in garages or residential backyard environments.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A combination comprising a device useful for the organized storage of flexible conduits, including hoses, wires, and cables, which device comprises: a) a backbone portion, having a longest length dimension, a width dimension, a height dimension, a top face and a bottom face,

What is claimed is: 1. A combination comprising a device useful for the organized storage of flexible conduits, including hoses, wires, and cables, which device comprises: a) a backbone portion, having a longest length dimension, a width dimension, a height dimension, a top face and a bottom face, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first edge portion, and a second edge portion; b) a plurality of finger portions, each having a length dimension, a width dimension, a thickness dimension, a first end portion, and a second end portion, wherein said finger portions are attached to and disposed along the length dimension of said backbone portion on its top face, with each of said finger portions being attached at their first end portion to said backbone portion, and wherein said finger portions are oriented such that their length dimensions extend substantially perpendicularly from said backbone portion with respect to the longest length dimension of said backbone portion, wherein one of said finger portions comprises a terminal finger portion, being disposed adjacent to an end portion of said backbone portion, said terminal finger portion being contoured sufficiently to prevent a length of conduit that is present in said hook portion from being pulled off from said device in a direction parallel to the direction said finger portions extend from said backbone and including a hook portion disposed on its second end portion, wherein said backbone portion further comprises, along its length, a plurality of mounting holes disposed therethrough, said bottom face of said backbone portion being substantially flat, and further comprising a substrate to which said device is vertically mounted such that said terminal finger portion is disposed at a height elevation that is vertically higher than the remaining finger portions, and further comprising a flexible conduit in a coiled configuration having a plurality of loops, wherein said loops are disposed between said finger portions such that two adjacent loops in said coiled configuration are disposed between two successive finger portions on said device. 2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein said substrate comprises a substrate selected from the group consisting of: walls, trees, and posts. 3. A combination comprising a device useful for the organized storage of flexible conduits, including hoses, wires, and cables, which device comprises: a backbone portion having a first edge portion and a second edge portion, and a plurality of finger portions, each of said finger portions having a first end portion and a second end portion wherein said finger portions protrude substantially perpendicularly from said backbone portion, said finger portions being disposed along the length of said backbone portion, wherein one of said finger portions is a terminal finger portion which itself comprises a hook portion disposed on its second end portion, said backbone portion further comprising, along its length, a plurality of mounting holes disposed therethrough, said mounting holes having their entire boundaries disposed between said first edge portion and said second edge portion of said backbone portion, and wherein said terminal finger portion is contoured sufficiently to prevent a length of conduit that is present at said hook portion from being pulled off of said device in a direction parallel to the direction said finger portions extend from backbone, and further comprising a substrate to which said device is vertically mounted such that said terminal finger portion is disposed at a height elevation that is vertically higher than the remaining finger portions, and further comprising a flexible conduit in a coiled configuration having a plurality of loops, wherein said loops are disposed between said finger portions such that two adjacent loops in said coiled configuration are disposed between two successive finger portions on said device. 4. A combination according to claim 3 wherein said substrate comprises a substrate selected from the group consisting of: walls, trees, and posts. 5. A combination comprising a device useful for the organized storage of flexible conduits, including hoses, wires, and cables, which device comprises: a backbone portion having a first edge portion and a second edge portion, and a plurality of finger portions, each of said finger portions having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein said finger portions protrude substantially perpendicularly from said backbone portion, said finger portions being disposed along the length of said backbone portion, wherein one of said finger portions is a terminal finger portion which itself comprises a hook portion disposed on its second end portion, said backbone portion further comprising, along its length, a plurality of mounting holes disposed therethrough, said mounting holes having their entire boundaries disposed between said first edge portion and said second edge portion of said backbone portion, and wherein said terminal finger portion is contoured sufficiently to prevent a length of conduit that is present at said hook portion from being pulled off of said device in a direction parallel to the direction said fingers extend from said backbone, wherein said mounting holes do not share any common feature or boundary with either of the first edge portion or the second edge portion, and further comprising a substrate to which said device is vertically mounted by means of a plurality of fasteners disposed through said mounting holes, such that said terminal finger portion is disposed at a height elevation that is vertically higher than the remaining finger portions, and further comprising a flexible conduit in a coiled configuration having a plurality of loops, wherein said loops are disposed between said finger portions such that two adjacent loops in said coiled configuration are disposed between two successive finger portions on said device. 6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein said substrate comprises a substrate selected from the group consisting of: walls, trees, and posts.