Extension cord transport cart

• US 20080128543A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dolores M. Rumczikas, Laura A. Jados
• Original Assignee: Dolores M. Rumczikas, Laura A. Jados
• Inventors: Rumczikas, Dolores M., Jados, Laura A.
• Application Number:
  US11/077,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20080128543A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/403
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/28 Arrangements for positively securing ends of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/403 Carriage with wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

An extension cord transport cart for transporting, unwinding, rewinding, and storing long extension cords used outdoors to power electrical devices. The transport cart includes a storage reel that includes a pair of end disks retained in a spaced relationship by a center member. A crank handle is provided adapted to rotationally drive the storage reel upon application of hand force to wind the extension cord therearound. The transport cart is rotatably supported on a support frame with two wheels rotatably connected thereto for easy hand-pushing thereof. A relatively long power cord is provided for connection to electrical wall outlets and to the extension cord to supply electrical power to the electrical devices. The storage reel has a pair of clips to retain a male connector of the extension cord to one of the end disks thereof and a corresponding end portion of the extension cord to the center member thereof preventing disconnection upon complete unwinding thereof. The support frame has a pair of clips to retain a female connector and corresponding end of the power cord to the support frame preventing disconnection thereof during use. The support frame includes an upper cord wrapping area for storing the power cord.

Claims

1. An extension cord transport cart for transporting, unwinding, rewinding, and storing an electrical extension cord to power electrical devices supplied with electrical power conducted through an electrical power cord which plugs into electrical wall outlets, comprising:

a storage reel adapted to be hand-rotated to unwind, rewind, and store the extension cord;

a support frame adapted to rotatably support said storage reel, be hand-pushed, and store the power cord; and

a wheel assembly adapted to rollably support said support frame with storage reel.

2. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a cord wrapping area for storing the power cord.

3. The transport cart according to claim 2, wherein the cord wrapping area is disposed at an upper end of the support frame.

4. The transport cart according to claim 2, wherein the cord wrapping area is chosen from the group consisting of a pair of spaced-apart flanged areas, recessed areas, and a combination thereof adapted to retain the power cord wrapped therebetween.

5. The transport cart according to claim 2, wherein the support frame has a capacity to wrap up between about 25 to 50 feet of the power cord.

6. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the storage reel is adapted to retain an end portion of the extension cord.

7. The transport cart according to claim 6, wherein the storage reel includes a cord clip) adapted to retain a flexible electrical cord of the extension cord.

8. The transport cart according to claim 7, wherein the cord clip is adapted to receive the flexible electrical cord tangential to the storage reel and bend said flexible electrical cord to longitudinal of said storage reel.

9. The transport cart according to claim 6, wherein the storage reel is adapted to retain a male connector of the extension cord.

10. The transport cart according to claim 9, wherein the storage reel includes a connector clip adapted to retain the male connector of the extension cord.

11. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the support frame is adapted to retain an end portion of the power cord.

12. The transport cart according to claim 11, wherein the support frame includes a cord clip adapted to retain a flexible electrical cord of the power cord.

13. The transport cart according to claim 11, wherein the support frame is adapted to retain a female connector of the power cord.

14. The transport cart according to claim 13, wherein the support frame includes a connector clip adapted to retain the female connector of the power cord.

15. The transport cart according to claim 1, further comprising a crank handle adapted to rotationally drive the storage reel upon application of hand force.

16. The transport cart according to claim 15, wherein the crank handle includes a crank shaft connected to the storage reel extending along a longitudinal axis thereof, an arm extending from said crank shaft opposite said storage reel disposed generally at a right angle thereto, and a handle extending from an end of said arm distal from said crank shaft disposed generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.

17. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the wheel assembly includes at least two wheels rotatably connected to the support frame.

18. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a pair of upright side frames interconnected by a plurality of connecting members, the storage reel being rotatably connected to said support frame between said side frames.

19. The transport cart according to claim 18, wherein the side frames are each of generally triangular configuration.

20. The transport cart according to claim 18, wherein the side frames each include a handle support member.

21. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a push member for hand-pushing thereof.

22. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a tray for holding various items.

23. The transport cart according to claim 22, wherein the tray comprises a tray module, which includes a pair of side members interconnected by an integral push member and tray.

24. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the storage reel includes a pair of end disks retained in a spaced relationship by a center member.

25. The transport cart according to claim 24, wherein the center member comprises a center tube.

26. The transport cart according to claim 24, wherein each end disk comprises a central disk and an outer rim interconnected by a plurality of radial spokes.

27. The transport cart according to claim 1, wherein the storage reel has a capacity to hold between about 200 to 250 feet of the extension cord.

28. The transport cart according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of the extension cord and the power cord, each of which includes a male connector and a female connector interconnected by a flexible electrical cord.

29. An extension cord transport cart for transporting, unwinding, rewinding, and storing an electrical extension cord to power electrical devices supplied with electrical power from electrical wall outlets, comprising:

a storage reel adapted to be hand-rotated to unwind, rewind, and store the extension cord;

an electrical power cord adapted to plug into the electrical wall outlets to conduct the electrical power to said extension cord;

a support frame adapted to rotatably support said storage reel, to be hand-pushed, and to store said power cord; and

a wheel assembly adapted to rollably support said support frame with storage reel.

30. The transport cart according to claim 29, further comprising:

at least one of the extension cord and the electrical power cord, each of which includes a male connector and a female connector interconnected by a flexible electrical cord;

a crank handle adapted to rotationally drive the storage reel upon application of hand force, said storage reel being adapted to retain an end portion and said male connector of said extension cord thereto; and

wherein the support frame is adapted to retain an end portion and said female connector of said power cord, and the wheel assembly includes at least two wheels rotatably connected to said support frame.

31. The transport cart according to claim 30, wherein the storage reel includes a cord clip adapted to retain a flexible electrical cord of the extension cord and a connector clip adapted to retain the male connector of said extension cord, and the support frame includes a cord clip adapted to retain a flexible electrical cord of the power cord and a connector clip adapted to retain the female connector of said power cord.

32. The transport cart according to claim 31, wherein the storage reel includes a pair of end disks retained in a spaced relationship by a center member, one of said end disks which includes the connector clip disposed at an outer periphery thereof and said center tube which includes the cord clip each of which retain the extension cord.

33. The transport cart according to claim 32, wherein the cord clip of the storage reel is adapted to receive the flexible electrical cord tangential to the storage reel and bend said flexible electrical cord to longitudinal of said storage reel.

34. The transport cart according to claim 29, wherein the support frame includes a pair of upright side frames each including a handle support member, each side frame being of generally triangular configuration interconnected by a plurality of connecting members, the storage reel being rotatably connected to said support frame between said side frames, one of said connecting members comprising a tray module mounted between said handle support members which includes a pair of side members interconnected by a tray for holding items and a push member for hand-pushing thereof.

35. The transport cart according to claim 29, wherein the support frame includes a cord wrapping area for storing the power cord disposed at an upper end thereof chosen from the group consisting of a pair of spaced-apart flanged areas, recessed areas, and a combination thereof adapted to retain the power cord wrapped therebetween.