Electrical utility cord storage and shortening device

• US 3,924,819 A
• Filed: 06/11/1974
• Issued: 12/09/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edward F. Lapinskas
• Original Assignee: Edward F. Lapinskas
• Inventors: Lapinskas, Edward F.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCarthy, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US05/478,218
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 242/85.1,125.1,125.2,129,96 191/12R,12.2R,12.4 24/71.2,71.3,129B,130
• US Class Current: 242/388
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/36 without essentially involving the use of a core or former internal to a stored package of material, e.g. with stored material housed within casing or container, or intermittently engaging a plurality of supports as in sinuous or serpentine fashion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A spool-like device is adapted for use in wrapping, storing, and shortening utility cord or the like. The spool-like device embodies a generally elongated and longitudinally extending hub member having an outer peripheral surface upon which the cord is adapted to be wrapped. Connected to the hub member are generally transversely extending retaining members located adjacent each end thereof and arranged to project generally radially outwardly from the outer peripheral surface by a distance sufficient to contain at least one winding of wrapped cord. Releasable fastening devices are also provided and are located adjacent the ends of the hub member for detachably and firmly securing the cord adjacent the ends of the hub member.

Claims

1. A spool-like device adapted for use in wrapping, storing, and shortening utility cord or the like comprising a generally longitudinally extending tubular member having an outer peripheral surface upon which the cord is adapted to be wrapped, at least one pair of generally transversely extending retaining flanges connected to and located adjacent opposite ends of said tubular member and projecting generally radially outwardly from said outer peripheral surface by a distance sufficient to contain at least one winding of the wrapped cord by preventing axial separation thereof, and resilient clip means connected to and located at each said ends of said tubular member having separated jaw portions which partially define an opening for the cord and which snap about the cord whenever the cord is inserted into said opening to firmly hold the cord against unwrapping about said tubular member.

2. A device adapted for storage and shortening of an electrical utility cord as utilized by household electrical appliances, said device comprising a spool-like member of molded plastic material having an intermediate hub about which a length of utility cord is wrapped and integral retaining flanges at opposed ends of the hub which project radially therefrom to contain at least one wrapping of the utility cord and restrain it against axial separation from the hub, said spool-like member further having fastening means at each end of the hub in the form of end-separated integral jaw portions which define openings with a restricted mouth for releaseably receiving the portions of the utility cord leading to and from its wrapped portion, said jaw portions being flexible to accommodate passage of the cord portions into said openings through the mouth thereof and thereafter to resiliently snap around the cord portions and firmly hold the cord to the spool-like member and against unwrapping from the hub.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprise integral parts of the retaining flanges.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the fastening means comprise annular clip portions at the ends of the hub which extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hub.