CORD REEL

• US 3,657,491 A
• Filed: 05/28/1970
• Issued: 04/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Francis Eugene Ryder, Ronald Orville Gordon
• Original Assignee: Francis Eugene Ryder, Ronald Orville Gordon
• Inventors: Ryder, Francis Eugene, Gordon, Ronald Orville
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoffman, Drayton E.
• Application Number:
  US05/041,236
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 191/12.2R,12.2A,12.4 242/118.41,80,107.1
• US Class Current: 191/12.20R
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4434 actuated by pulling on or imparting an inclination to the material
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

An automatically retractable cord reel having continuous solid conductors from the free end of the extensible cord through a fixed flat conductor attached to the power source. The fixed conductor is a flat conductor helically disposed and axially restrained within a secondary cavity in the reel with the radially outer end of the flat conductor connected to the cord and the inner end of the flat conductor fixedly connected to the source. Means are also provided to position the reel in predetermined angular relationships to the assembly mounting so that the cord is maintained in an extended condition without tension.

Claims

1. An automatic retractable cord reel including base means, a rotatable reel mounted on said base and including a first cavity means adapted to accept an elongated conductor cord means, energizable power means adapted to act on said reel means, a coaxial second cavity on said reel having end walls spaced a predetermined distance, said cavity adapted to accept a flat conductor having a width less than said predetermined distance and so proportioned to insure successive layer winding without tangling, the outer end of said conductor being connected to said cord while the inner end of said conductor remains stationary relative to said base means for fixed connection to a source, said flat conductor further having its helix disposed in an adjustable coil capable of varying the radii of its locus of points, whereby said cord and said second conductor form a continuous connector with one end fixed to said outside source and the opposite end being the free end of the cord which is capable of being played out tangentially from the periphery of the reel.

2. A device of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustable coil is a ribbon of material having a plurality of conductors insulating by disposed in parallel relation with said ribbon having a resilient characteristic to react as a coil spring being uncoiled during feed-out of said cord and coiled during feed-in of said cord.

3. A device of the type set forth in claim 2 wherein said reel includes ratchet means adapted to cooperate with pawl means when said reel is slowly rotated to retain said reel in a predetermined angular position, said pawl and ratchet means adapted to be released and capable of being overridden when said reel attains a certain angular velocity to permit rewinding of said cord.

4. A device of the type set forth in claim 3 wherein the pivot point of said pawl is fixed relative to said base and said cooperating ratchet is carried by said rotating reel.

5. A device of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein said energizable power means is a coiled spring which can be adjusted in strength.

6. A device of the type set forth in claim 5 wherein said coiled spring is restrained at its inner diameter and connected at its outer extremity with a casing having means to interconnect with the reel to urge the reel in a direction for retraction of said cord.

7. A device of the type set forth in claim 6 wherein said casing includes at least one external spline to interconnect with said reel to induce rotation, means associated with said casing adapted to cooperate with said base to permit said spring to be wound up prior to assembly with said reel.

8. An automatically retractable cord reel including base means having a central upstanding fixed post member and a peripheral flange projecting in the same direction as said post, annularly disposed fixed ratchet means located intermediate said post member and Said peripheral flanges coiled watch-like spring means having its inner end fixed relative to said post, a casing rotatably mounted relative to said post and encompassing and urged in a given direction by said spring, resilient ratchet clip means mounted on said casing and normally extending outwardly into engagement with said fixed base ratchet means whereby said spring can be wound up by rotation of said casing and maintained in its stressed condition, first cover means fixed relative said post and axially retaining said spring in said casing, reel means having axially spaced radially extending annular flanges and a central axially grooved counterbore adapted to encircle said casing and mesh with the splines of said casing and to release said ratchet clip means, said reel flanges adapted to be encompassed by the peripheral base flange, elongated conductor cord means adapted to be wound up between said flanges, a second central cavity means axially oppositely disposed from said central counterbore, bushing means disposed within said second central cavity and fixed relative to said first post, helically disposed conductor means encircling said bushing and disposed within said second central cavity, said last mentioned conductor means being fixed relative to said bushing and being helically disposed of opposite hand to said cord means, said cord and said conductor means having their inner and outer ends respectively connected, centrally apertured second cover means removably mounted on said reel and covering said second cavity and rotatable relative to said base, said second cover means having said conductor means feeding axially outwardly through said central aperture, said base peripheral flange having an aperture therein generally tangentially disposed relative to said reel whereby said cord can be drawn from said reel against the tension of said spring and means for mounting said base relative to a work plate.

9. A device of the type claimed in claim 8 wherein said first cover means carries pawl means engageable with ratchet means in the counterbore of said reel whereby said spring loaded reel and its associated cord can be stopped in a predetermined position, said ratchet means being capable of being overridden when the angular velocity of said reel reaches a predetermined level.

10. A device of the type claimed in claim 8 wherein said conductor means is ribbon-like with a plurality of conductors being disposed in parallel fashion and said ribbon being spring-like and self-contracting.

11. A device of the type claimed in claim 8 wherein said bushing includes a spiral-like slot communicating with an axially extending bore and adapted to accept said conductor within said slot and bore.

12. A device of the type claimed in claim 8 wherein said fixed bushing is adapted to cooperate with means for restraining said second cover and hence said reel from rotating, said second cover having a portion thereof which is removable to provide access to the connection between the cord and conductor whereby a worn cord can be readily replaced without removal of the entire assembly.