Extension cord carrier

Abstract

A carrier for a plurality of electric extension cords includes a columnar body with a handle portion proximate one end of the carrier and a base portion proximate the opposite end of the carrier. The carrier has a pair of laterally projecting lobes defining a first storing region and a second storing region. Two or more cords may be simultaneously stored by wrapping on each of the storage regions. Moreover, the handle portion and the base portion enable a user to balance the device against, for example, the user's leg with one arm, which leaves the user's other arm free to wrap an elongated object around one of the storing regions.

1 . A carrier for an electric extension cord comprising: 
 a handle portion proximate one end of the carrier;    a base portion proximate the opposite end of the carrier;    a first storage region positioned between the handle portion and the base portion, wherein the first storage region is defined by a first recess portion proximate the handle portion and a second recess portion proximate the base portion; and    a second storage region adjacent the first storage region, wherein the second storage region is positioned between the handle portion and the base portion, wherein the second storage region is further defined by a first recess portion proximate the handle portion and a second recess portion proximate the base portion;    wherein the carrier comprises at least one securing structure having a series of openings adapted to receive and secure the prongs of a male end of an electrical cord.    
   
   
       2 . The carrier of  claim 1  further comprising at least one opening positioned between the first storage region and the second storage region, the at least one opening being sized to receive the plug end of an electrical cord.  
   
   
       3 . The carrier of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening further comprises a narrowed portion for frictionally engaging a cable body of the electrical cord.  
   
   
       4 . The carrier of  claim 1  wherein the handle portion is T-shaped.  
   
   
       5 . The carrier of  claim 1  wherein the base portion is X-shaped and comprises a first portion operably coupled to a second portion oriented generally transverse to the first portion.  
   
   
       6 . The carrier of  claim 5  wherein the carrier has a columnar body including at least one receptacle having a series of openings adapted to receive and secure the prongs of a male end of an electrical cord.  
   
   
       7 . The carrier of  claim 1  wherein the first and second recess portions of the first storage region are adapted to secure up to about 100 feet of 12-gauge electrical cord.  
   
   
       8 . The carrier of  claim 1  wherein the carrier has a plurality of notches positioned along the periphery of at least one of the first and second storage regions, each notch comprising an inner portion and a channel.  
   
   
       9 . The carrier of  claim 8  wherein the channel of each notch is defined by a pair of opposing anticlinally shaped surfaces.  
   
   
       10 . The carrier of  claim 1  wherein the carrier is formed from metal, a metal alloy, a polymer, wood, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       11 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is formed from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), polypropylene (PP), poly(vinylchloride) (PVC), polycarbonates, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), polyurethanes, and blends and copolymers thereof.  
   
   
       12 . A carrier for at least one electrical extension cord, the cord having an elongate cable body portion with at least one plug end, the carrier comprising: 
 an elongated body portion presenting a pair of opposing ends and having a handle portion proximate one of the opposing ends and a base portion proximate the other of the opposing ends;    a pair of projecting lobes on opposing sides of the elongated body portion, each lobe defining a storage region for winding at least a portion of the at least one electrical extension cord thereon; and    at least one cord securing structure defined in the elongated body portion.    
   
   
       13 . The carrier of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one cord securing structure is an opening defined in the elongated body portion between the pair of projecting lobes, the opening including a portion for receiving the plug end of the electrical extension cord therethrough and a narrowed portion for frictionally engaging a cable body portion of the extension cord.  
   
   
       14 . The carrier of  claim 12 , wherein the carrier includes a plurality of cord securing structures positioned along the periphery of at least one of the first and second storage regions, each notch comprising an inner portion and a channel.  
   
   
       15 . The carrier of  claim 14 , wherein the channel of each notch is defined by a pair of opposing anticlinally shaped surfaces.  
   
   
       16 . The carrier of  claim 12 , wherein the base portion has a radiused lower edge portion for conforming to the hip or upper leg of a user.  
   
   
       17 . A method of storing an electrical extension cord, the cord comprising an elongate cable body having a pair of opposing ends with a plug at each end, the method comprising steps of: 
 providing a carrier comprising a generally columnar body portion presenting opposing upper and lower ends and having a pair of laterally projecting lobes, each lobe defining a storage region for receiving the electrical extension cord wound therein, the carrier further comprising a grippable handle proximate the upper end, a ground engaging base proximate the lower end, and a plurality of cord securing structures;    engaging the base with the ground;    winding the electrical extension cord on the storage region of at least one of the lobes;    securing the cable body of the cord proximate each end in a separate one of the cord securing structures.    
   
   
       18 . An electric extension cord and carrier system comprising: 
 a pair of electric extension cords, each extension cord including an elongate cable portion with a pair of opposing ends and a plug portion at each of the opposing ends; and    a carrier comprising: 
 an elongate body portion having a pair of opposing ends with a handle portion proximate one of the ends and a base portion proximate the opposite end;  
 a pair of lobes extending laterally on opposite sides of the body portion, each lobe defining a wrapping region for receiving at least one of the extension cords thereon and presenting an outer edge with a plurality of cord engaging notches defined therein;  
 the body portion further having a generally columnar portion disposed between the lobes, the columnar body portion including means for receiving and securing at least one of the opposing ends of each of the pair of cords.  
   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the means for receiving and securing at least one of the opposing ends of each cord includes a plurality of elongate apertures, each aperture having an enlarged portion adapted to receive the plug portion of the extension cord therethrough and at least one narrowed portion for frictionally engaging the cable portion of the extension cord.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the means for receiving and securing at least one of the opposing ends of each cord comprises at least one securing structure having a series of openings adapted to receive and secure the prongs of a male end of an electrical cord.