Cord reel including one or more electrical devices

• US 7,931,389 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Suckle, Mitchell, Allbright, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/874,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 248/49.65, 242/405, 242/406, 242/400, 242/400.1, 242/405.1, 242/405.2, 242/405.3, 362/253, 362/191, 362/234
• US Class Current: 362/253
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/34 electric cords or electric power cables
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/403 Carriage with wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4402 Guiding arrangements to control paying-out and re-storing of the material guides per se B65H57/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4465 Foldable or collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4468 Tubular frame
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

In a number of embodiments, a cord reel can include: (a) an electrical cable; (b) a casing with a first exterior surface; (c) one or more electrical receptacles at the first exterior surface and electrically coupled to the electrical cable; and (d) a frame. The frame can include: (a) at least one wheel; and (b) a body coupled to the at least one wheel and the casing. In these embodiments, the casing is configured such that at least a portion of the electrical cable can be wound around a first portion of the casing. The electrical cable is configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electrical receptacles. The body can include: (a) a shaft portion with an end; and (b) a handle coupled to the end of the shaft portion. A length of the shaft portion can be adjusted between two or more lengths. Other embodiments are disclosed in this application.

Claims

1. A cord reel comprising:

an electrical cable;

a casing with a first exterior surface;

one or more electrical receptacles at the first exterior surface and electrically coupled to the electrical cable; and

a frame comprising;

at least one wheel; and

a body coupled to the at least one wheel and the casing,

wherein;

the casing is configured such that at least a portion of the electrical cable can be wound around a first portion of the casing;

the electrical cable is configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electrical receptacles;

the body comprises;

a shaft portion with an end; and

a handle coupled to the end of the shaft portion;

a length of the shaft portion can be adjusted between two or more lengths;

a surge protector located within the casing and electrically coupled between the one or more electrical receptacles and the electrical cable; and

a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the one or more electrical receptacles and the electrical cable,

wherein;

the rechargeable battery is configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electrical receptacles when the electrical cable is not electrically coupled to an external power source;

the casing is removably coupled to the frame;

the shaft portion comprises at least two telescoping tubular components;

a first telescoping tubular component of the at least two telescoping tubular components can be axially displaced relative to a second telescoping tubular component of the at least two telescoping tubular components;

the handle is orientated in a direction substantially perpendicular to an axis of the at least one wheel;

the first telescoping tubular component of the at least two telescoping tubular components is coupled to the handle; and

the frame is configured such that when the electrical device is rolled across a surface, the wheels are in contact with the surface and the frame is not in contact with the surface.

2. The cord reel of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more electrical receptacles remain substantially stationary while the electrical cable is wound and unwound onto the first portion of the casing.

3. A cord reel comprising:

an electrical cable;

a first light emitting device electrically coupled to the electrical cable;

a casing with a first exterior surface and enclosing at least a first portion of the first light emitting device;

one or more electrical receptacles at the first exterior surface and electrically coupled to the electrical cable; and

a frame coupled to the casing,

wherein;

the casing is configured such that at least a portion of the electrical cable can be wound around a first portion of the casing;

the electrical cable is configured to provide electrical power to the one or more electrical receptacles and the first light emitting device;

the first light emitting device is removable from the casing; and

the first light emitting device comprises a first battery.

4. The cord reel of claim 3, wherein:

the one or more electrical receptacles remain substantially stationary while the electrical cable is wound and unwound onto the first portion of the casing.

5. The cord reel of claim 3, further comprising:

a second light emitting device,

wherein;

the first light emitting device is located at the first exterior surface when the electrical cable provides electrical power to the first light emitting device; and

the second light emitting device is located at the first exterior surface of the casing.

6. The cord reel of claim 3, wherein:

the frame comprises;

a first portion of the frame configured to rest on a surface when the casing is at a first orientation with respect to the surface; and

a second portion of the frame configured to rest on the surface when the casing is at a second orientation with respect to the surface.

7. The cord reel of claim 3, further comprising:

a surge protector electrically coupled between the one or more electrical receptacles and the electrical cable; and

the surge protector is located within the casing.

8. The cord reel of claim 7, wherein:

the frame comprises;

a first portion of the frame configured to rest on a surface when the casing is at a first orientation with respect to the surface; and

a second portion of the frame configured to rest on the surface when the casing is at a second orientation with respect to the surface;

the casing encloses the at least the portion of the cable wound around the first portion of the casing;

the casing is configured such that the first portion of the casing can be rotated when the electrical cable is wound around the first portion of the casing.

14. The cord reel of claim 3, wherein:

the first battery is rechargeable; and

the first battery is configured to provide electrical power to the first light emitting device when the electrical cable is not electrically coupled to the first light emitting device.

15. The cord reel of claim 3, further comprising:

a removal mechanism configured to assist in detaching the first light emitting device from the casing.

16. The cord reel of claim 3, further comprising:

one or more electrical components contained by the casing.

17. The cord reel of claim 3, wherein:

the casing includes an opening configured to hold the first light emitting device; and

the opening is located at the first exterior surface of the casing.

18. The cord reel of claim 3, further comprising:

a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the electrical cable,

wherein;

the electrical cable is configured to couple to an external power source to provide electrical power to the first light emitting device when the first light emitting device is coupled to the casing; and

the electrical cable is configured to couple to the external power source to further provide electrical power to the rechargeable battery.

19. The cord reel of claim 18, wherein:

the rechargeable battery is configured to provide electrical power to the first light emitting device when the first light emitting device is coupled to the casing and the electrical cable is not coupled to the external power source.

20. The cord reel of claim 18, wherein:

the rechargeable battery is configured to provide electrical power to the at least one electrical receptacle when the electrical cable is not coupled to the electrical power source.

9. A cord reel comprising:

a cable;

a removable light emitting device;

a casing configured to contain the removable light emitting device; and

a frame coupled to the casing,

wherein;

the casing is configured such that at least a portion of the electrical cable can be wound around a first portion of the casing;

the cable comprises an electrical cable;

the removable light emitting device comprises a first battery; and

the cable is electrically coupled to the removable light emitting device such that the cable provides electrical power to charge the first battery of the removable light emitting device when the removable light emitting device is contained by the casing.

10. The cord reel of claim 9, further comprising:

a removal mechanism configured to assist in detaching the removable light emitting device from the casing.

11. The cord reel of claim 9, further comprising:

an electrical component contained by the casing.

12. The cord reel of claim 11, wherein:

the electrical component comprises at least one electrical receptacle; and

the cable is electrically coupled to the at least one electrical receptacle.

21. The cord reel of claim 9, wherein:

the first battery is rechargeable; and

the first battery is configured to provide electrical power to the removable emitting device when the electrical cable is not electrically coupled to the removable light emitting device.

22. The cord reel of claim 9, wherein:

the casing includes an opening configured to hold the removable light emitting device; and

the opening is located at an external surface of the casing.

23. The cord reel of claim 9, wherein:

the frame comprises;

a first portion configured to rest on a surface when the casing is at a first orientation with respect to the surface; and

a second portion configured to rest on the surface when the casing is at a second orientation with respect to the surface.

24. The cord reel of claim 9, wherein:

the first battery is coupled to the cable such that the first battery is charged when the cable is coupled to an external power supply.

25. The cord reel of claim 9, further comprising:

a rechargeable battery electrically coupled to the cable,

wherein;

the cable is configured to couple to an external power source to provide electrical power to the removable light emitting device when the removable light emitting device is coupled to the casing; and

the cable is configured to couple to the external power source to further provide electrical power to the rechargeable battery.

26. The cord reel of claim 25, wherein:

the rechargeable battery is configured to provide electrical power to the removable light emitting device when the removable light emitting device is coupled to the casing and the cable is not coupled to the external power source.

27. The cord reel of claim 12, further comprising:

a surge protector electrically coupled between the at least one electrical receptacles and the cable, the surge protector is located within the casing.

13. A cord reel comprising:

a cable;

a removable light emitting device;

a casing configured to contain the removable light emitting device;

an electrical component contained by the casing; and

a frame coupled to the casing,

wherein;

the casing is configured such that at least a portion of the electrical cable can be wound around a first portion of the casing;

the electrical component comprises at least one electrical receptacle;

the cable is electrically coupled to the at least one electrical receptacle;

the removable light emitting device is a flashlight;

a second portion of the casing encloses the at least the portion of the cable wound around the first portion of the casing;

the cable comprises an electrical cable;

the removable light emitting device comprises a battery;

when the removable light emitting device is contained by the casing, the cable can be electrically coupled to the removable light emitting device and provide electrical power to charge the battery of the removable light emitting device;

the frame comprises;

a first portion configured to rest on a surface when the casing is at a first orientation with respect to the surface; and

a second portion configured to rest on the surface when the casing is at a second orientation with respect to the surface;

the casing includes an opening configured to hold the removable light emitting device; and

the opening is located at a center of an external surface of the casing.