Cord storage reel with built-in plug and receptacle panel

• US 20060186255A1
• Filed: 02/22/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bayco Products Ltd
• Original Assignee: Bayco Products Ltd
• Inventors: Rooker, Jeffrey F.
• Application Number:
  US11/062,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186255A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/395
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2402/412 details or the parts to be hold by the user, e.g. handle
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/5122 Plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/40 mobile or transportable
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4431 Manual stop or release button
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/4468 Tubular frame
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 11/02 using take-up reel or drum

Abstract

A storage reel for an electrical cord includes a spool and an electrical circuit enclosed therein. The electrical circuit, contained within the hub of the spool, includes a standard AC plug mounted in a recessed cavity in the hub and wired to the line, neutral, and ground terminals of a plurality of standard AC receptacles mounted in an end of the hub on the side of the spool. A circuit breaker is included in the electrical circuit. The receptacle end of an extension cord is connected to the AC plug. The extension cord may then be coiled up around the hub of the spool for storage or transport.

Claims

1. A storage reel for an electrical cord, for being rotatably supported on an axle attached to a frame, the storage reel comprising:

a spool having a hollow cylindrical hub of a first diameter, an axial bushing in the hub defining an axis of rotation, and first and second circular, parallel sides of the spool formed integrally with and on opposite ends of the hub, the circular sides having a second diameter larger than the first diameter; and

a circuit connecting a standard electrical plug via at least a line and a neutral conductors to a plurality of standard electrical receptacles connected in parallel across the line and neutral conductors and a circuit breaker is connected in the line conductor and centrally located in the first end of the hub coincident with the first side of the spool, wherein the circuit is enclosed within the hub such that the electrical plug is mounted in a recessed cavity in the hub facing away from the axial bushing of the hub, and the plurality of electrical receptacles are mounted in a first end of the hub coincident with the first side of the spool, disposed around the axial bushing in the hub, and accessible from the first side of the spool.

2. The storage reel of claim 1, wherein the circuit connecting the plug and the receptacles includes a third, ground conductor.

4. The storage reel of claim 1, wherein the first side of the spool includes a crank handle disposed a first radial distance from the axis of rotation of the spool and attached to and extending away from the first side of the spool, wherein the crank handle enables the rotation of the spool about the axle.

5. The storage reel of claim 1, wherein the spool is adapted for storing an electrical extension cord wound thereon, a receptacle end of the extension cord having been connected to the plug of the apparatus before winding the extension cord upon the spool.

6. The storage reel of claim 1, wherein the circuit provides a distribution of electric current to each of the plurality of receptacles.

3. (canceled)

7. A storage reel for an electrical cord, comprising:

a frame having a side portion and an axle extending at a right angle from the side portion;

a spool, having a hollow hub and first and second parallel, discoid sides having a first diameter, each first and second side formed integrally with and disposed respectively on first and second opposite ends of and normal to an axis of the hub, the hub further including a bushing disposed along the axis of the hub for rotatably supporting the hub of the spool on the axle; and

an electrical circuit enclosed in the hub of the spool and having first, second, and third conductors respectively connecting a line, a neutral, and a ground terminal of a standard three-prong AC plug to corresponding line, neutral, and ground terminals of a plurality of standard three-pin AC receptacles, wherein the AC plug is oriented radially outward from the axis of the hub and mounted within a recessed cavity of the hub disposed between the first and second sides of the spool;

circuit breaker connected in series with the line conductor between the line terminal of the AC plug and the line terminals of the plurality of AC receptacles wherein the circuit breaker is centrally mounted in the hub to be accessible for resetting from the first side of the spool; and

a pivoting spool lock mounted on the side portion of the frame is adapted to pivotably engage a proximate one of the radially-disposed openings in the second side of the spool to prevent rotation of the spool on the axle.

10. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the hub of the spool comprises:

a hollow cylinder having a second diameter and an axial length defining a spacing between the first and second sides of the spool;

wherein

the plurality of AC receptacles are oriented outward from and mounted in the first side of the spool and within a boundary defined by the second diameter of the hub.

11. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the frame further comprises a base portion extending from a first end of the side portion and substantially parallel to the axle.

12. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the frame further comprises a handle portion extending from a second, opposite end of the side portion from the base portion and oriented in substantially the same direction as the base portion and the axle.

13. The storage reel of claim 12, wherein the handle portion is substantially parallel with the axle.

14. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the frame is formed of a unitary length of tubing, bent from a single length of the tubing or a plurality of lengths of the tubing welded together.

15. The storage reel of claim 14, wherein the frame includes a handle portion and a base portion oriented in the same direction as the axle and extending from respective opposite ends of the side portion, such that the base portion and the handle portion are substantially parallel to the axle.

16. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the spool is formed of a polypropylene material.

17. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the first and second sides of the spool further include a plurality of radially-disposed openings in each first and second side of the spool, the openings having a substantially rounded shape and positioned in the respective first and second sides of the spool between an outline substantially defined by the diameter of the hub and the first diameter of the first and second sides of the spool.

19. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the spool lock is adapted to rotatably engage a tubular member of the frame such that the spool lock operates as a pawl to engage the proximate opening in the second side of the spool.

20. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the first side of the spool further comprises a crank handle disposed proximate and within the first diameter of the first side of the spool and at a right angle thereto.

21. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit provides a distribution of electric current to each of the plurality of AC receptacles.

23. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the spool is adapted for storing an electrical extension cord wound thereon, a receptacle end of the extension cord having been installed on the AC plug of the apparatus before winding the extension cord upon the spool.

24. The storage reel of claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit is a two-wire electrical circuit mounted in the hub of the spool and having first and second conductors respectively connecting a line and a neutral terminal of a standard two-prong AC plug to corresponding line and neutral terminals of a plurality of standard two-pin AC receptacles.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

22. The storage reel of claim 9, wherein the storage reel may be supported with the base portion resting on a surface or the side portion resting on the surface.

18. (canceled)