Hand reel

• US 4,143,746 A
• Filed: 01/30/1978
• Issued: 03/13/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: A. J. Lowery
• Original Assignee: A. J. Lowery
• Inventors: Lowery, A. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hornsby, Harvey C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jillions, John M.
• Application Number:
  US05/873,112
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 242/96, 191/12.2 R, 191/12.4, 225/56-61, 225/66, 244/155 A
• US Class Current: 191/12.4
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/406 hand-held during use B65H75/48, B65H75/4473 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A hand reel is disclosed herein particularly for use in winding electrical extension cords. The hand reel is a spool with flanges, with the cord adapted to be wrapped around the spool between the flanges. The spool has a central bore that is large enough to accommodate the user'"'"'s hand. A supporting member is slidingly attached to the spool inside the bore, allowing the spool to be rotated while holding the supporting member. The arcuate length of the supporting member is much less than the diameter of the bore, minimizing friction and allowing cleaning.

Claims

1. An improved hand reel for an electrical extension cord, comprising:

a spool having circular flanges with a channel therebetween for receiving the cord, and a bore therein of sufficient size to accommodate the hand of the user;

the flanges being of the same diameter;

a supporting member slidingly mounted to the spool inside the bore to allow rotation of the spool with respect to the supporting member for winding on and off the cord;

the supporting member having a surface within the bore adapted to be held by the hand of the user and extending along the periphery of the bore for a length substantially less than the circumference of the bore;

means for connecting said supporting member to said spool to retain said supporting member in sliding contact with said spool, and

means for providing electrical access to the inner end of the cord.

2. The hand reel according to claim 1 wherein the length of the supporting member is less than half the circumference of the bore.

3. The hand reel according to claim 1 wherein the supporting member has vertical sides that are slidingly mounted to the flanges of the spool by tongue and groove means.

4. The hand reel according to claim 1 wherein the supporting member has an arcuate upper surface that slidingly contacts the surface of the bore for supporting the weight of the reel and cord.

5. An improved hand reel, comprising:

a spool having flanges with a channel therebetween for storing line, and a bore therein of sufficient size to accommodate the hand of a user; and

a supporting member slidingly mounted to the spool inside the bore to allow rotation of the spool with respect to the supporting member;

the supporting member having a lower surface adapted to be held by the hand of a user and a pair of vertical sides, each side extending parallel to and slidingly interconnected with one of the flanges by tongue and groove means;

the supporting member having an upper surface in sliding contact with the inner surface of the bore that is a segment of length less than half the circumference of the bore.

6. The hand reel according to claim 5 wherein the tongue and groove means comprises an annular depression formed in each flange adjacent the bore concentric with the axis of rotation, and a pair of opposing shoulders formed on the sides of the supporting member for reception in the depressions.

7. An improved hand reel for an electrical extension cord, comprising:

a cylinder having opens ends with circular flanges extending outwardly from the cylinder'"'"'s ends, the cylinder being of sufficient diameter to accommodate the hand of a user;

an annular partition connected between the flanges and positioned between the cylinder and the outer edges of the flanges to define a channel for storing an electrical cord, the space between the cylinder and partition defining a chamber;

a supporting member slidingly mounted inside the cylinder;

the supporting member having a lower surface adapted to be held by the hand of the user and an upper surface in sliding contact with the inner surface of the cylinder;

the supporting member further having a pair of vertical sides extending from the upper and lower surfaces, each side extending parallel to and slidingly interconnected to one of the flanges by tongue and groove means;

the upper surface of the supporting member being arcuate and substantially less in length than the inner circumference of the cylinder; and

an electrical receptacle connected to the end of the electrical cord and mounted in the chamber to one of the flanges with its face substantially flush with the flange.

8. An improved hand reel, comprising:

a spool having flanges with a channel therebetween for receiving line, and a bore therein of sufficient size to accomodate the hand of the user; and

a supporting member slidingly mounted to the spool inside the bore to allow rotation of the spool with respect to the supporting member for winding on and off the line, the supporting member having a lower surface inside the bore adapted to be grasped by the hand of the user and extending along the periphery of the bore for a length substantially less than the circumference of the bore and means for connecting said supporting member to said spool to retain said supporting member in sliding contact with said spool.