Cord reel with electrical outlets

• US 20050072645A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Alert Stamping & Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alert Stamping & Manufacturing Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Kovacik, James D., Blanch, Paul S., Smith, Joseph J.
• Application Number:
  US10/678,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20050072645A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 191/12.20R
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/40 mobile or transportable
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4468 Tubular frame
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A manually operated cord storage reel with electrical outlets, the storage reel for storing, transporting, and dispensing an electrical cord and including a frame capable of supporting the storage reel for rotation in a vertical position or a horizontal position.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A cord storage reel comprising:

a unitary frame including a generally U-shaped base portion, a handle portion and a spool mounting axle, said base portion, said handle portion and said axle being in spaced relation to one another;

a hub having opposed open ends;

a front flange attached to one end of said hub and having a raised surface received in said one end; and

a rear flange attached to another end of said hub and having a raised surface received in said another end, said hub and said front and rear flanges forming a spool rotatably mounted on said axle wherein said axle is sufficiently spaced from said handle portion and said base portion to permit rotation of said spool about an axis of rotation, said frame being adapted to selectively support said spool in at least two positions of said axis of rotation.

22. The cord storage reel according to claim 21 wherein the at least two positions are substantially vertical and substantially horizontal orientations of said axis of rotation relative to a horizontal plane.

23. The cord storage reel according to claim 21 wherein said handle portion extends substantially parallel to a plane containing said base portion.

24. The cord storage reel according to claim 21 wherein said spool mounting axle extends substantially parallel to a plane containing said base portion.

25. The cord storage reel according to claim 21 wherein said front flange and said rear flange are produced from a metal material.

26. The cord storage reel according to claim 21 wherein said frame and said hub are produced from a plastic material.

27. The cord storage reel according to claim 21 wherein said raised surface of said front flange includes at least one electrical outlet installed therein adapted to be connected with a source of electrical power.

28. The cord storage reel according to claim 27 wherein said front flange includes a switch and circuit breaker connected to said at least one electrical outlet to selectively interrupt the source of electrical power supplied to said at least one electrical outlet.

29. The cord storage reel according to claim 21 wherein said front flange includes a knob for effecting rotation of said spool on said spool mounting axle of said frame.

30. The cord storage reel according to claim 21 wherein said frame is produced from tube stock.

31. A cord storage reel comprising:

a frame including a base portion, a handle portion, and a spool mounting axle, said handle portion being connected to said base portion by a first leg and said spool mounting axle being connected to said base portion by a second leg; and

a spool rotatably mounted on said spool mounting axle for rotation about an axis of rotation, said spool including a hub and front and rear flanges, said front and rear flanges being releasably attached to opposite open ends of said hub.

32. The cord storage reel according to claim 31 wherein said hub includes a plurality of external ribs and said front and rear flanges are attached to said hub by a plurality of threaded fasteners engaging said ribs.

33. The cord storage reel according to claim 31 wherein said front and rear flanges are produced from a metal material and said frame and said hub are produced from a plastic material.

34. The cord storage reel according to claim 31 wherein said front flange includes at least one electrical outlet installed therein adapted to be connected with a source of electrical power and a switch and circuit breaker installed therein and connected to selectively interrupt the source of electrical power supplied to said at least one electrical outlet.

35. The cord storage reel according to claim 31 wherein said front and rear flanges each include a central raised surface received in an associated one of said open ends of said hub.

36. A cord storage reel comprising:

a frame including a base portion, a handle portion, and a spool mounting axle, said handle portion being connected to said base portion by a first leg and said spool mounting axle being connected to said base portion by a second leg;

a plurality of foot pads disposed on said base portion and said first and second legs;

a spool rotatably mounted on said spool mounting axle for rotation about an axis of rotation, said spool including a hub and front and rear flanges, said front and rear flanges being releasably attached to opposite open ends of said hub; and

at least one double electrical outlet mounted on said front flange for connection to a source of electrical power.

37. The cord storage reel according to claim 36 wherein said front and rear flanges each include a central raised surface received in an associated one of said open ends of said hub.

38. The cord storage reel according to claim 36 wherein said hub includes a plurality of external ribs and said front and rear flanges are attached to said hub by a plurality of threaded fasteners engaging opposite ends of said ribs.