Cable management apparatus, system, and furniture structures

Abstract

A one-piece unitary easily manufactured and economical product that both facilitates the routing of cable and the storage of extra lengths of cable is provided in one embodiment by a cable management apparatus including at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween. In various exemplary non-limiting embodiments, the innovation provides multimedia furniture that includes structure for supporting an entertainment device, at least one outwardly facing rear section, wherein the at least one outwardly facing rear section includes an opening through which a cable is receivable and a cable management apparatus disposed on the outwardly facing rear section, the cable management apparatus includes at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween.

1 . A cable management apparatus including:
 at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween.   
   
   
       2 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is wider at a top portion and at a bottom portion to hold a cable. 
   
   
       3 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are flexible above the top portion and below the bottom portion. 
   
   
       4 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members comprise flexible ends. 
   
   
       5 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members comprise partially arcuate outside edges and an inside edge that extends linearly with two arcuate cable holding sections. 
   
   
       6 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are molded as a single unit. 
   
   
       7 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are molded as a single unit that comprises a back portion having at least one attachment opening thereon. 
   
   
       8 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are molded as a single unit that comprises a back portion and at least two side portions with rib members disposed on external surfaces of the side portions. 
   
   
       9 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members extend from a non flexible end to a flexible end forming a half cleat. 
   
   
       10 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is wider at a top portion and at a bottom portion sized to hold an 8 mm cable. 
   
   
       11 . The cable management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel is wider at a top portion and at a bottom portion sized to hold a plurality of cables totaling 24 mm. 
   
   
       12 . A cable management system including:
 a wall board; and   a plurality of cable management apparatuses each including at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween.   
   
   
       13 . The cable management system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of cable management apparatuses are arranged in rows and columns forming a matrix for cable storage. 
   
   
       14 . The cable management system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of cable management apparatuses are arranged in either a row or a column. 
   
   
       15 . The cable management system of  claim 12 , wherein the channels are wider at a top portion and at a bottom portion to hold a cable. 
   
   
       16 . The cable management system of  claim 15 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members are flexible above the top portion and below the bottom portion. 
   
   
       17 . The cable management system of  claim 15 , wherein the two longitudinally extending cable guide members extend from a non flexible end to a flexible end forming a plurality of half cleats. 
   
   
       18 . A furniture structure for supporting an entertainment device housed by the furniture structure, including:
 a surface capable of supporting the entertainment device;   at least one outwardly facing rear section, wherein the at least one outwardly facing rear section includes an opening through which a cable is receivable; and   a cable management apparatus disposed on the outwardly facing rear section, the cable management apparatus including at least two longitudinally extending cable guide members forming a channel therebetween.   
   
   
       19 . The furniture structure of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one outwardly facing rear section includes a plurality of cable management apparatuses disposed thereon. 
   
   
       20 . The furniture structure of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of cable management apparatuses are arranged in either a row or a column to facilitate cable storage. 
   
   
       21 . A wall mounting kit comprising:
 a cable management apparatus; and   a plurality of spacers enabling a user selectable cable storage width between the cable management apparatus and the wall.