Cable roller, system and/or method for extending and/or retracting a coiled cable

• US 20110303816A1
• Filed: 06/11/2010
• Published: 12/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sennco Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sennco Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Horvath, Daniel, Reynolds, Andy
• Granted Patent: US 8,985,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/542
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/391 Spiral coiled hoses or cords
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/446 for releasably or permanently attaching the frame to a wall, on a floor or on a post or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4473 without arrangements or adaptations for rotating the core or former
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/022 repositionable
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/065 with a special structure, e.g. reinforced or adapted for space reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A cable roller, a system and/or a method extend and/or retract a coiled cable. The cable roller, the system and/or the method secure an article to a fixture while allowing manipulation, testing and/or maneuvering of the article with respect to the fixture. A drum attaches to the fixture. The drum has a sleeve that rotates freely with respect to the central axis of the drum. A spring action of the coiled cable rotates the sleeve to extend and/or to retract the coiled cable from an underside of the fixture.

Claims

1. A cable roller for retracting a coiled cable into a fixture wherein the fixture has a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the bottom surface is positioned opposite to the top surface, the cable roller comprising:

a drum having a central axis wherein the drum has a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the drum has an internal diameter and an external diameter defining a thickness;

a mounting bracket extending from the drum at a junction point between the first end of the drum and the second end of the drum wherein the mounting bracket has a top end and a bottom end; and

a first end cap having a length defined between a first end and a second end wherein the first end cap has a flange that extends radially from the first end of the first end cap wherein the second end of the first end cap has an external diameter that is less than the internal diameter of the drum wherein the second end of the first end cap inserts into the first end of the drum wherein the flange prevents removal of the coiled cable from the drum.

2. The cable roller of claim 1 further comprising:

a sleeve around the drum between the first end of the drum and the junction point wherein the sleeve has an internal diameter that is greater than the external diameter of the drum wherein the sleeve rotates around the drum.

3. The cable roller of claim 1 further comprising:

a sleeve around the drum between the second end of the drum and the junction point wherein the sleeve has an internal diameter that is greater than the external diameter of the drum wherein the sleeve rotates around the drum.

4. The cable roller of claim 1 wherein the drum has a low friction surface.

5. The cable roller of claim 1 further comprising:

a second end cap that inserts into the second end of the drum.

6. The cable roller of claim 1 further comprising:

a slot in the mounting bracket wherein the slot is sized to seat the coiled cable.

7. The cable roller of claim 1 further comprising:

an aperture in the mounting bracket wherein the aperture forms a passage for the coiled cable.

8. The cable roller of claim 1 further comprising:

means for attaching the mounting bracket to the fixture.

9. The cable roller of claim 1 further comprising:

a post assembly that attaches to the mounting bracket wherein the post assembly is positioned adjacent to the fixture and further wherein the mounting bracket is positioned adjacent to the fixture.

10. The cable roller of claim 9 further comprising:

a connector that attaches the post assembly to the mounting bracket.

11. The cable roller of claim 1 further comprising:

a rib extending from the flange wherein the rib forms a grip to remove the first end cap from the drum.

12. A system for securing an article to a fixture wherein the fixture has a top surface and a bottom surface wherein the fixture has a hole that extends between the top surface and the bottom surface, the system comprising:

a cable roller positioned adjacent to the hole on the bottom surface of the fixture wherein the cable roller has a fixed drum and a mounting bracket wherein the mounting bracket extends from the fixed drum wherein the mounting bracket is disposed around the fixed drum and further wherein the mounting bracket has an aperture that is aligned with the hole in the fixture wherein the mounting bracket has a slot;

a post positioned adjacent to the hole on the top surface of the fixture wherein the post is hollow wherein the post is sized to position the article away from the top surface of the fixture wherein the post is attached to the cable roller through the hole in the fixture; and

a coiled cable that extends through the post, through the hole in the fixture, through the aperture in the mounting bracket and around the fixed drum and is seated in the slot of the mounting bracket.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a sensor on the coiled cable wherein the sensor is attachable to the article.

14. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

an alarm unit associated with the fixture wherein the coiled cable is connected to the alarm unit to monitor the article.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a sleeve around the fixed drum wherein the sleeve rotates around the fixed drum as the coiled cable is extended with respect to the fixed drum.

16. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a flange extending radially from the fixed drum to prevent lateral movement of the coiled cable with respect to the fixed drum.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising:

a low-friction surface on the fixed drum to allow extension of the coiled cable with respect to the fixed drum.

18. A method for securing an article to a fixture, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a coiled sensor cable and a cable roller wherein the coiled sensor cable has a first end and a second end wherein the cable roller has a fixed drum, a mounting bracket, a rotatable sleeve and a flanged end cap wherein the mounting bracket has a slot sized to receive the first end of the coiled sensor cable;

attaching the cable roller to the fixture with the mounting bracket;

threading the first end of the coiled sensor cable through the fixture and around the fixed drum;

attaching the first end of the coiled sensor cable to the mounting bracket via the slot; and

attaching the second end of the coiled sensor cable to the article.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

positioning the rotatable sleeve between the fixed drum and the coiled sensor cable.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

inserting the flanged end cap into the fixed drum.