Caddy for electric extension cords

• US 6,056,226 A
• Filed: 01/19/1999
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert L. Green
• Original Assignee: Robert L. Green
• Inventors: Green, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JOHN QUOC
• Application Number:
  US09/232,592
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 242/395, 242/395.1, 242/405.3, 242/405, 242/388.1, 191/12.2 R
• US Class Current: 242/395
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/364 the stored material being coiled
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A caddy for storage and transportation of a heavy-duty electrical extension cord, the caddy comprising a reel mounted inside a protective container. A cord is wound on the reel for storage and subsequently unwound for use, the tendency for tangling and twisting characteristic of hand-coiled cords is avoided. Storage inside the container protects the cord against damage during transportation.

Claims

1. A caddy for an electrical extension cord having a plug end and a receptacle end, said caddy comprising:

a protective container having the general form of a bucket having a cylindrical side and a horizontal circular base and a removable cover with a central opening therein,

a reel, rotatably mounted inside said protective container, said reel comprising a hollow cylindrical spool and a concentric shaft in the hollow interior of said spool, both integral with and extending upwardly from the horizontal circular base of said container,

a first opening in the cylindrical side of said container for passage of said extension cord,

a second opening in said hollow cylindrical spool for passage of a portion of said extension cord, and

a hand crank removably coupled to said shaft by means of a quick disconnect coupling means, the upper end of said shaft and said quick disconnect means passing through the central opening when said cover is in place upon said container whereby,

when said extension cord is initially installed in said caddy the plug end is passed first through said first opening in said container, then through said second opening in said hollow spool, a short length of said plug end of said cord thus entering the hollow interior of said spool and being wound about said shaft and about the interior surface of said spool for storage,

said hand crank and said cover being removed during the initial installation of said cord in said caddy while said short length of said plug end of said cord is being passed through said first opening in said container and through said second opening in said spool and while said short length of said plug end is being stored inside said spool, and

said cover being installed atop said container during transport and storage of said caddy,

said hand crank being adapted to rotate said reel within said container, causing all but a short length of said receptacle end of said cord to be taken up by said reel for storage about the outside surface of said spool, and

when said cord is to be withdrawn for use, a length of said cord is withdrawn by grasping said short length of said receptacle end and pulling the cord, thereby causing said reel to rotate, unwinding said cord until the desired length has been extended,

said short length of said plug end of said cord is then removed from inside said hollow spool and plugged into a power outlet.

2. The caddy as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said reel is rotatably mounted inside said protective container by means of a Lazy Susan bearing.

3. The caddy as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said container has a handle mounted thereon for carrying said caddy.