Telephone cord wind-up apparatus

• US 4,757,955 A
• Filed: 09/18/1987
• Issued: 07/19/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Henry C. Simmons
• Original Assignee: Henry C. Simmons
• Inventors: Simmons, Henry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jillions, John M.
• Application Number:
  US07/098,303
• Time in Patent Office: 305 Days
• Field of Search: 242/107, 242/107.7, 242/107.6, 191/12.2 R, 191/12.2 A, 191/12.4
• US Class Current: 191/12.20R
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/44 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4463 Swivelling attachment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords

Abstract

A telephone cord wind-up apparatus which takes the form of a reel upon which is wound a given length of a main telephone cord. This reel is rotatably mounted within a housing. The reel is to be unwound from the housing during the extending of the main telephone cord with there being a ratchet device connecting the reel and the housing. A standard telephone cord is also connected to the housing with a positive electrical connection being provided between the standard electrical cord and the main telephone cord. A spring mounts the reel with respect to the housing with this spring also being utilized in part for establishing of the positive electrical connection. The housing is mounted on a mounting tube and is pivotally mounted in respect thereto. The mounting tube is to be fixedly secured to an exterior structure.

Claims

1. A telephone cord wind-up apparatus comprising:

a housing having an internal chamber;

a reel rotatably mounted within said internal chamber;

a main telephone cord wound on said reel, said main telephone cord terminating at an inner end and an outer end, said housing having an outlet opening, said outer end extending through said outlet opening and located exteriorly of said housing, said inner end being connected to electrical connection means mounted within said internal chamber;

said housing having an inlet opening, said inlet opening having a longitudinal center axis, a standard telephone cord being conducted through said inlet opening into said internal chamber, said standard telephone cord being connected to said electrical connection means; and

a mounting tube assembly adapted to be secured to an exterior structure, said housing being pivotally mounted about a pivot axis on said mounting tube assembly, said pivot axis coinciding with said longitudinal center axis, whereby as said housing pivots relative to said mounting tube assembly the said standard telephone cord does not hinder this pivoting movement since said standard telephone cord connects to said housing at said pivot axis.

2. The telephone cord wind-up apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein:

a spring mounted between said reel and said housing, said reel being movable from a totally wound up position when said main telephone cord is substantially entirely wound on said reel to a less than wound up position when said main telephone cord is extended some distance exteriorly of said housing, said spring exerting a continuous bias tending to locate said reel in said totally wound up position.

3. The telephone cord wind-up apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein:

said spring comprising a coil, an electrical conductor connecting said main telephone cord and said standard telephone cord, said electrical conductor being mounted on said spring.

4. The telephone cord wind-up apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein:

a ratchet device connected between said reel and said housing, said ratchet device normally preventing movement of said reel from said less than said wound up position to said totally wound up position, a ratchet disengaging device mounted on said housing, actuation of said ratchet disengaging device disengages said ratchet device which permits said reel to move from said less than wound up position to said totally wound up position.

5. A telephone cord wind-up apparatus comprising:

a housing having an internal chamber;

a reel rotatably mounted within said internal chamber;

a main telephone cord wound on said reel, said main telephone cord terminating at an inner end and an outer end, said housing having an outlet opening, said outer end extending through said outlet opening and located exteriorly of said housing, said inner end being connected to electrical connection means mounted within said internal chamber;

said housing having an inlet opening, a standard telephone cord being conducted through said inlet opening into said internal chamber, said standard telephone cord being connected to said electrical connection means;

a spring mounted between said reel and said housing, said reel being movable from a totally wound up position when said main telephone cord is substantially entirely wound on said reel to a less than wound up position when said main telephone cord is extended some distance exteriorly of said housing, said spring exerting a continuous bias tending to locate said reel in said totally wound up position;

said spring comprising a coil, an electrical conductor comprising said main telephone cord and said standard telephone cord, said electrical conductor being mounted on said spring;

a ratchet device connected between said reel and said housing, said ratchet device normally preventing movement of said reel from said less than said wound up position to said totally wound up position, a ratchet disengaging device mounted on said housing, actuation of said ratchet disengaging device disengages said ratchet device which permits said reel to move from said less than wound up position to said totally wound up position;

a mounting tube assembly adapted to be secured to an exterior surface, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting tube assembly; and

a storage chamber for facilitating storage of the excess cord of said standard telephone cord, said storage chamber being part of said mounting tube assembly.

6. A telephone cord wind-up apparatus comprising:

a housing having an internal chamber;

a reel rotatably mounted within said internal chamber;

a main telephone cord wound on said reel, said main telephone cord terminating at an inner end and an outer end, said housing having an outlet opening, said outer end extending through said outlet opening and located exteriorly of said housing, said inner end being connected to electrical connection means mounted within said internal chamber;

said housing having an inlet opening, a standard telephone cord being conducted through said inlet opening into said internal chamber, said standard telephone cord being connected to said electrical connection means;

a mounting tube assembly adapted to be secured to an exterior structure, said housing being pivotally mounted on said mounting tube assembly; and

a storage chamber for facilitating storage of the excess cord of said standard telephone cord, said storage chamber being part of said mounting tube assembly.