Retractable electrical extension cord

• US 5,723,815 A
• Filed: 09/12/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rolando Pena
• Original Assignee: Rolando Pena
• Inventors: Pena, Rolando
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US08/713,006
• Time in Patent Office: 537 Days
• Field of Search: 242/389, 242/397, 242/398, 439/501, 174/53, 174/57, 174/48, 174/50, 220/3.3, 220/3.7
• US Class Current: 174/53
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A wall mounted extendible and retractable electrical extension cord has an enclosed housing having a rear wall and a front wall parallel to the rear wall, the front wall having at least one aperture therein and the housing being secured to a wall of a building; an electrical extension cord having a predetermined length and an electrical connector on one end thereof, a portion of the electrical extension cord adjacent the one end thereof extending through the one aperture; a reel disposed within the housing between and parallel to the rear wall and the front wall to store the electrical extension cord thereon; an electrical power source coupled to the housing having at least a power terminal and a neutral terminal; and a mechanism disposed within the housing coupled to the reel, the electrical extension cord and the electrical power source to couple electrical power to the electrical extension cord, to enable pulling the electrical extension cord from the reel by the one end to a desirable length for use, to lock the reel when the electrical extension cord is at a desirable length, and to automatically retract the electrical extension cord back onto the reel after terminating the use thereof.

Claims

1. A wall mounted extendible and retractable electrical extension cord comprising:

an enclosed housing having a rear wall and a front wall parallel to and spaced from said rear wall, said front wall having at least one aperture therethrough, said enclosed housing being secured to a wall of a building;

an electrical extension cord having a predetermined length and an electrical connector on one end thereof, a portion of said electrical extension cord adjacent said one end thereof extending through said at least one aperture;

a reel mounted on an axle extending between the rear and front walls and disposed within said enclosed housing between and parallel to said rear wall and said front wall to store said electrical extension cord thereon;

an electrical power source coupled to said enclosed housing having at least a power terminal and a neutral terminal; and

a mechanism disposed within said housing coupled to said reel, said electrical extension cord and said electrical power source to couple electrical power to said electrical extension cord, to enable pulling said electrical extension cord from said reel by said one end to a desirable length for use, to lock said reel when said electrical extension cord is at said desirable length, and to automatically retract said electrical extension cord back onto said reel after terminating the use thereof.

2. An electrical extension cord according to claim 1, wherein said mechanism includes

a flat spring disposed within said reel having one end fastened to said axle and the other end fastened to an interior of a hub of said reel to enable placing said flat spring under tension when said electrical extension cord is pulled from said reel to provide automatic retracting of said electrical extension cord onto said reel,

a contact disc disposed coaxial of said axle and secured to said reel adjacent said rear wall having a first circular contact area coaxial of said axle and slidably coupled to one of said power terminal and said neutral terminal and a second circular contact area spaced from said first circular contact area coaxial of said axle and slidably coupled to the other of said power terminal and said neutral terminal,

a pair of sliding contacts, one of said pair of sliding contacts being coupled between said first circular contact area and one of a power lead and a neutral lead of said electrical extension cord and the other of said pair of sliding contacts being coupled between said second circular contact area and the other of a power lead and a neutral lead of said electrical extension cord, and

a cam-gear combination having a gear coaxial of said axle and secured to said reel adjacent said front wall to enable pulling said electrical extension cord from said reel to said desirable length, to enable locking said reel when said electrical extension cord has reached said desirable length, and to enable automatic retraction of said electrical extension cord onto said reel after use.

3. An electrical extension cord according to claim 2, further including

a pulley disposed within said housing adjacent said at least one aperture in said front wall to ease the passing of said electrical extension cord through said at least one aperture.

4. An electrical extension cord according to claim 2, further including

at least one electrical receptacle disposed in said front wall adjacent said at least one aperture connected to said electrical power source.

5. An electrical extension cord according to claim 2, further including

a plurality of electrical receptacles disposed in said front wall adjacent said at least one aperture each connected to said electrical power source.

6. An electrical extension cord according to claim 1, wherein

said electrical power source includes

an electrical wall receptacle having at least said power terminal and said neutral terminal,

an electrical plug disposed in said rear wall having at least a power blade and a neutral blade capable of being plugged into said electrical wall receptacle, and

fastening means to secure said housing in position on said wall of said building.

7. An electrical extension cord according to claim 6, wherein

said fastening means secures said housing to said electrical wall receptacle.

8. An electrical extension cord according to claim 6, wherein said mechanism includes

a flat spring disposed within said reel having one end fastened to said axle and the other end fastened to an interior of a hub of said reel to enable placing said flat spring under tension when said electrical extension cord is pulled from said reel to provide automatic retraction of said electrical extension cord onto said reel,

a contact disc disposed coaxial of said axle and secured to said reel adjacent said rear wall having a first circular contact area coaxial of said axle and slidably coupled to one of said power blades and said neutral blade and a second circular contact area spaced from said first circular contact area coaxial of said axle and slidably coupled to the other of said power blade and said neutral blade,

a pair of sliding contacts, one of said pair of sliding contacts being coupled between said first circular contact area and one of a power lead and a neutral lead of said electrical extension cord and the other of said pair of sliding contacts being coupled between said second circular contact area and the other of a power lead and a neutral lead of said electrical extension cord, and

a cam-gear combination having a gear coaxial of said axle and secured to said reel adjacent said front wall to enable pulling said electrical extension cord from said reel to said desirable length, to enable locking said reel when said electrical extension cord has reached said desirable length, and to enable automatic retraction of said electrical extension cord onto said reel after use.

9. An electrical extension cord according to claim 8, further including a pulley disposed within said housing adjacent said at least one aperture in said front wall to ease the passing of said electrical extension cord through said at least one aperture.

10. An electrical extension cord according to claim 8, further including

at least one electrical receptacle disposed in said front wall adjacent said at least one aperture connected to said electrical plug.

11. An electrical extension cord according to claim 8, further including

a plurality of electrical receptacles disposed in said front wall adjacent said at least one aperture each connected to said electrical plug.

12. An electrical extension cord according to claim 1, wherein

said housing is secured within said wall of said building between two spaced studs located behind a wall covering, and

said electrical power source includes

a building electrical power cable having at least a power conductor and a neutral conductor hard wired to said power terminal and said neutral terminal.

13. An electrical extension cord according to claim 12, wherein

a portion of said front wall adjacent said at least aperture covers said wall covering and the remainder of said front wall is disposed behind said wall covering.

14. An electrical extension cord according to claim 13, further including

at least one electrical receptacle disposed in said portion of said front wall connected to at least said power terminal and said neutral terminal.

15. An electrical extension cord according to claim 13, further including

a plurality of electrical receptacles disposed in said portion of said front wall each connected to at least said power terminal and said neutral terminal.

16. An electrical extension cord according to claim 13, further including a pulley disposed within said housing adjacent said at least one aperture in said portion of said front wall to ease the passing of said electrical extension cord through said at least one aperture.

17. An electrical extension cord according to claim 12, wherein said mechanism includes

a flat spring disposed within said reel having one end fastened to said axle and the other end fastened to an interior of a hub of said reel to enable placing said spring under tension when said electrical extension cord is pulled from said reel to provide automatic retraction of said electrical extension cord onto said reel,

a contact disc disposed coaxial of said axle and secured to said reel adjacent said rear wall having a first circular contact area coaxial of said axle and slidably coupled to one of said power terminal and said neutral terminal and a second circular contact area spaced from said first circular contact area coaxial of said axle and slidably coupled to the other of said power terminal and said neutral terminal,

a pair of sliding contacts, one of said pair of sliding contact being coupled between said first circular contact area and one of a power lead and a neutral lead of said electrical extension cord and the other of said pair of sliding contacts being coupled between said second circular contact area and the other of a power lead and a neutral lead of said electrical extension cord, and

a cam-gear combination having a gear coaxial of said axle and secured to said reel adjacent said front wall to enable pulling said electrical extension cord from said reel to said desirable length, to enable locking said reel when said electrical extension cord has reached said desirable length, and to enable automatic retraction of said electrical extension cord onto said reel after use.

18. An electrical extension cord according to claim 17, further including

at least one electrical receptacle disposed in said front wall connected to at least said power terminal and said neutral terminal.

19. An electrical extension cord according to claim 17, further including

a plurality of electrical receptacles disposed in said front wall each connected to at least said power terminal and said neutral terminal.

20. An electrical extension cord according to claim 17, further including a pulley disposed within said housing adjacent said at least one aperture in said front wall to ease the passing of said electrical extension cord through said at least one aperture.