Retractable Cord Reel
First Claim
1. A retractable cord reel apparatus, the apparatus comprisinga housing,a spool within and arranged for rotation relative to the housing,wherein the spool is axially divided into a plurality of chambers, said spool defining a rotating aperture mounted on the rotating spool near the axis of spool rotation,a cord traversing the interior of the housing and terminating in retractable and stationary ends external to the housing,wherein, within a first of the plurality of chambers, the cord comprises a retractable coil wound around the axis of the spool and attached at its periphery to said retractable end through an aperture in the housing,wherein, within a second of said chambers, the cord comprises an expandable coil wound around the axis of the spool, said expandable coil having first and second ends, said expandable coil having its first end attached to the housing wherein, during retraction of the cord from the first chamber, the expandable coil expands towards the perimeter of the second chamber, after which, the expandable coil winds back into the core of the second chamber wound in a direction opposite that which it began,wherein the expandable coil enters the core of the second chamber through a rotating aperture arranged for rotation about its own axis, andwherein the rotating aperture rotates to accommodate the changing trajectory of the expandable coil.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A retractable cord reel is disclosed. The retractable cord reel may have a rotatable ferrule configured to adapt to an expandable coil having various trajectories within the cord reel. The retractable cord reel may have a splicing chamber filled with an epoxy or similar substance. Improved heat dissipation vents and fins and a thermal overload device may also be provided.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A retractable cord reel apparatus, the apparatus comprising
a housing, a spool within and arranged for rotation relative to the housing, wherein the spool is axially divided into a plurality of chambers, said spool defining a rotating aperture mounted on the rotating spool near the axis of spool rotation, a cord traversing the interior of the housing and terminating in retractable and stationary ends external to the housing, wherein, within a first of the plurality of chambers, the cord comprises a retractable coil wound around the axis of the spool and attached at its periphery to said retractable end through an aperture in the housing, wherein, within a second of said chambers, the cord comprises an expandable coil wound around the axis of the spool, said expandable coil having first and second ends, said expandable coil having its first end attached to the housing wherein, during retraction of the cord from the first chamber, the expandable coil expands towards the perimeter of the second chamber, after which, the expandable coil winds back into the core of the second chamber wound in a direction opposite that which it began, wherein the expandable coil enters the core of the second chamber through a rotating aperture arranged for rotation about its own axis, and wherein the rotating aperture rotates to accommodate the changing trajectory of the expandable coil.
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8. A retractable cord reel apparatus, the apparatus comprising
a housing, a spool within and arranged for rotation relative to the housing, wherein the spool is axially divided into a plurality of chambers, said housing defining a rotating aperture mounted on the housing near the axis of spool rotation, a cord traversing the interior of the housing and terminating in retractable and stationary ends external to the housing, wherein, within a first of the plurality of chambers, the cord comprises a retractable coil wound around the axis of the spool and attached at its periphery to said retractable end through an aperture in the housing, wherein, within a second of said chambers, the cord comprises an expandable coil wound around the axis of the housing, said expandable coil having first and second ends, said expandable coil having its first end of the expandable cable is attached to the rotating spool near the perimeter of the second chamber wherein, during retraction of the cord from the first chamber, the expandable coil expands towards the perimeter of the second chamber, after which, the expandable coil winds back into the core of the second chamber wound in a direction opposite that which it began, wherein the expandable coil enters the core of the second chamber through a rotating aperture arranged for rotation about its own axis, and wherein the rotating aperture rotates to accommodate the changing trajectory of the expandable coil.
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15. A retractable cord reel apparatus, the apparatus comprising
a housing, wherein the housing comprises a base mountable to a surface and a cover opposite the base, a spool within and arranged for rotation relative to the housing, wherein the spool is axially divided into a plurality of chambers, said spool defining a rotating aperture mounted on the rotating spool near the axis of spool rotation, wherein, within a first of the plurality of chambers, the cord comprises a retractable round cord wound around the axis of the spool and attached at its periphery to said retractable end through an aperture in the housing, wherein the outer extremity of the retractable cord coil comprises a retractable end capable of withdrawal through a hole in the housing, wherein, within a second of said chambers, the cord comprises flat cord wound around the axis of the spool, said flat cord having first and second ends, said flat cord having its first end attached to the housing wherein, during retraction of the cord from the first chamber, the flat cord expands towards the perimeter of the second chamber, after which, the flat cord winds back into the core of the second chamber wound in a direction opposite that which it began, wherein the outer extremity of the flat coil forms a stationary end by exiting the apparatus via a hole in the housing, wherein the inner most portions of each of the round and flat coils are spliced together in a third chamber interior to the round cord chamber, and wherein the flat cord chamber is located adjacent to the cover.
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21. A retractable cord reel apparatus, the apparatus comprising
a housing supporting a cord, wherein the cord comprises an expansion segment and a retractable segment, each of which is coiled around a rotatable spool, each of said expansion and retractable segments having a first end and a second end, the first end of the expansion segment in operating communication with the first end of the retractable segment, wherein the retractable segment may be withdrawn from the housing, causing rotation of the spool and simultaneous expansion of the expansion segment within an expansion chamber, wherein the second end of the expansion segment forms a stationary end outside of the housing, a thermal overload protection device coupled to the cord, wherein the thermal overload protection device stops a flow of electricity through the apparatus during overheating, and wherein the thermal overload protection device comprises a manual reset button.
Specification