Retractable cable device

• US 6,803,525 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sheng Hsin Liao
• Original Assignee: Sheng Hsin Liao
• Inventors: Liao, Sheng Hsin
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHIRUBHAI R
• Application Number:
  US10/750,950
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 174/135, 174/50, 174/117.F, 174/113.R, 174/69, 191/12.4, 439/35, 439/456
• US Class Current: 174/135
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4423 Manual stop or release button
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4434 actuated by pulling on or imparting an inclination to the material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4452 Simultaneous winding and unwinding of the material, e.g. winding or unwinding on a stationary drum while respectively unwinding or winding on a rotating drum using a planetary guiding roller
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords

Abstract

A retractable cable device is disclosed. The housing has a receiving space, and the winding spool has a first spool disk and a spring receiving space. The first spool disk includes a receiving groove and a spool shaft. The communication cable is wound around the spool shaft so that an inner winding is formed. One end of the communication cable passes through the first spool disk of the winding spool so that the communication cable is respectively positioned at the receiving groove and the spool shaft of the first spool disk. Both ends of the communication cable protrude the housing of the retractable cable device. The spiral spring is positioned at the spring receiving space of the winding spool, and one end of the spiral spring is coupled to the winding spool and the other end of the spiral spring is coupled to the housing of the retractable cable device.

Claims

1. A retractable cable device, comprising:

a housing, having a receiving space;

a winding spool, pivotally connected to the housing within the receiving space of the housing and having a first spool disk and a spring receiving space, and the first spool disk having a receiving groove and a second spool disk;

a communication cable, wound around a spool shaft of the winding spool so that an inner winding is formed, and one end of the communication cable passing through the first spool disk of the winding spool so that an outer winding is formed, thereby the communication cable positioned on the winding shaft and the receiving groove and protruding out of the housing; and

a spiral spring, positioned at the spring receiving space of the winding spool, and one end of the spiral spring coupled to the winding spool and the other end of the spiral spring coupled to the housing.

2. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first cable slot is positioned at the periphery of the receiving space, and the other end of the communication cable extends through the first cable slot.

3. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a shaft is positioned on one side of the receiving space, and a hole is integrally formed with the other side of the receiving space, and an opening is positioned at the winding spool which is pivotally connected within the receiving space of the housing, and a narrow slot is integrally formed with the shaft and a protrusion is positioned at the winding spool so that one end of the spiral spring is hooked by the protrusion of the winding spool and the other end of the spiral spring is hooked by the narrow slot of the shaft.

4. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a latch button is slidably mounted to the housing and a latch tip is integrally formed with the latch button so that the latch tip is used to hold the communication cable.

5. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving groove is positioned between the first spool disk and the second spool disk.

6. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a slot is positioned at the first spool disk and passes through both sides of the first spool disk.

7. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a separation plate is positioned below the spiral spring and between the spiral spring and the communication cable.

8. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cover plate is positioned above the spiral spring and used to cover the spring receiving space.

9. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a positioning ring is integrally formed with the cover plate and has a plurality of notches, and a spool stop mechanism is installed near the winding spool and includes a rotatable pawl and a rotatable ratchet so that users can pull or retract the communication cable by the interconnection among the pawl, the ratchet and the notches of the cover plate.

10. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a positioning groove is positioned at the positioning ring and a ball is adapted to slide along the positioning groove, and a groove is positioned at the inner surface of the housing so that the ball is adapted to slide along the groove so that users can pull or retract the communication cable by the interconnection between the ball and the positioning groove of the cover plate.

11. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a reciprocating stop mechanism is installed at the housing, and users can stop or retract the communication cable by pushing a switch of the reciprocating stop mechanism.

12. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retractable cable device is installed in a mouse.

13. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retractable cable device is installed in a game console.

14. The retractable cable device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the retractable cable device is installed in a kind of meter.