Test lead retraction system
First Claim
1. A test lead cable retraction system comprising:
- a base, said base having an upper surface, said upper surface generally lying in a plane;
a pillar, said pillar being fixedly mounted to said upper surface of said base, said pillar having an end extending away from said base;
a first bore, said first bore extending through said pillar;
an axle inserted in said first bore, said axle being fixedly mounted in said first bore, said axle having a first end and a second end;
a first spool for holding a test lead cable, said first spool being rotatably mounted on said axle, said first spool being generally located between said pillar and said first end of said axle, said first spool having an outside edge;
a second spool for holding a test lead cable, said second spool being rotatably mounted on said axle, said second spool being generally located between said pillar and said second end of said axle, said second spool having an outside edge;
a pair of rings, one of said rings being mounted on each of said outside edges of said first and second spools, each of said rings being formed of an electrically conductive material and having an electronic connection thereon, each of said electronic connections extending through said outside edges of said first and second spools toward said pillar;
a first biasing means for rotationally biasing said first spool against rotation with respect to said axle in a first rotational direction;
a second biasing means for rotationally biasing said second spool against rotation with respect to said axle in a first rotational direction;
a first connecting cable, said first connecting cable having a first end being electrically coupled to said electrical connection in said outside edge of said first spool;
a second connecting cable, said second connecting cable having a first end being electrically coupled to said electrical connection in said outside edge of said second spool;
a first electrical contact, said first electrical contact being abutted against said first ring;
a second electrical contact, said second electrical contact being abutted against said second ring;
a first linking cable, said first linking cable linking said first electrical contact and a meter; and
a second linking cable, said second linking cable linking said second electrical contact and said meter;
wherein said base has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, a first end and a second end.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A test lead retraction system for retracting test lead cables on a spool. The test lead retraction system includes a base having an upper surface, a pillar is fixedly mounted to the upper surface, and a first bore extending through the pillar. An axle having a first end and a second end is fixedly mounted in the first bore. A first spool and a second spool are rotatably mounted on the axle between the pillar and the first end and the second end, respectively, of the axle. First and second biasing mechanisms rotationally bias the first spool and the second spool against rotation with respect to the axle in a first rotational direction. A first connecting cable and a second connecting cable are each wrapped about the respective first and second spools. A first linking cable links the first electrical contact and a meter. A second linking cable links the second electrical contact and the meter.
26 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A test lead cable retraction system comprising:
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a base, said base having an upper surface, said upper surface generally lying in a plane;
a pillar, said pillar being fixedly mounted to said upper surface of said base, said pillar having an end extending away from said base;
a first bore, said first bore extending through said pillar;
an axle inserted in said first bore, said axle being fixedly mounted in said first bore, said axle having a first end and a second end;
a first spool for holding a test lead cable, said first spool being rotatably mounted on said axle, said first spool being generally located between said pillar and said first end of said axle, said first spool having an outside edge;
a second spool for holding a test lead cable, said second spool being rotatably mounted on said axle, said second spool being generally located between said pillar and said second end of said axle, said second spool having an outside edge;
a pair of rings, one of said rings being mounted on each of said outside edges of said first and second spools, each of said rings being formed of an electrically conductive material and having an electronic connection thereon, each of said electronic connections extending through said outside edges of said first and second spools toward said pillar;
a first biasing means for rotationally biasing said first spool against rotation with respect to said axle in a first rotational direction;
a second biasing means for rotationally biasing said second spool against rotation with respect to said axle in a first rotational direction;
a first connecting cable, said first connecting cable having a first end being electrically coupled to said electrical connection in said outside edge of said first spool;
a second connecting cable, said second connecting cable having a first end being electrically coupled to said electrical connection in said outside edge of said second spool;
a first electrical contact, said first electrical contact being abutted against said first ring;
a second electrical contact, said second electrical contact being abutted against said second ring;
a first linking cable, said first linking cable linking said first electrical contact and a meter; and
a second linking cable, said second linking cable linking said second electrical contact and said meter;
wherein said base has a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, a first end and a second end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
an arm, said arm extending from said end of said pillar, said arm being oriented generally horizontal to said plane of said first side, said arm extending away from a plane of said second side of said base;
wherein said first bore extends through said arm, said first bore being oriented generally parallel to said plane of said second side.
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4. The test lead cable retraction system as in claim 3, further comprising:
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a pole, said pole being fixedly coupled to said arm, said pole being oriented generally perpendicular to a plane of said first side of said upper surface of said base, said pole extending away from said upper surface of said base;
a platform, said platform being fixedly coupled to said pole, said platform lying in a plane extending generally parallel to said plane of said upper surface of said base, said platform extending from said pole toward said first end of said base and from said pole toward said second end of said base; and
a second bore and a third bore for receiving said cables, said second bore being located in a portion of said platform between said pillar and said first end of said base, said third bore being in a portion of said platform between said pillar and said second end of said base.
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5. The test lead cable retraction system as in claim 1, wherein said first and second spools each have an inside edge, wherein said outside edge of said first spool is located generally adjacent to said first end of said axle and said outside edge of said second spool is generally adjacent to said second end of said axle, each of said spools having a middle portion, said middle portions of said first and second spools having a diameter less than a diameter of each of said outside and inside edges of said first and second spools;
- and wherein each of said electronic connections extend through said outside edges of said first and second spools into said middle portions of said first and second spools, said rings being formed from conductive material.
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6. The test lead cable retraction system as in claim 5, wherein said first biasing means comprises a first spring and said second biasing means comprises a second spring, and wherein each of said first and second spring comprises:
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a spiral coiled spring, said spiral coiled spring being generally annular and having a generally rectangular shaped cross-section, said spiral coiled spring having a first end and a second end;
wherein said first spring is mounted on said axle between said inside edge of said first spool and said pillar, said first end of said first spring being fixedly coupled to said axle, said second end of said first spring being coupled to said inside edge of said first spool, wherein turning said first spool in a first rotational direction tightens the radius of the coils of said first spring such that said first spring is biased against rotation in said first rotational direction; and
wherein said second spring is mounted on said axle between said inside edge of said second spool and said pillar, a first end of said second spring being fixedly coupled to said axle, a second end of said spring being fixedly coupled to said inside edge of said second spool, wherein turning said second spool in a first rotational direction tightens the radius of the coils of said second spring such that said second spring is biased against rotation in said first rotational direction.
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7. The test lead cable retraction system as in claim 4, wherein said first and second connecting cables each have a second end and a middle portion, said second end of said first connecting cable being inserted through said second bore of said platform, said second end of said second connecting cable being inserted through said third bore in said platform, wherein said first and second connecting cables are formed from conductive metal and encased in nonconductive material.
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8. The test lead cable retraction system as in claim 7, further comprising:
a pair of clamps, one of said clamps being fixedly coupled to each of said second ends of said first and second connecting cables.
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9. The test lead cable retraction system as in claim 1, wherein said first and second connecting cables each having a second end, and additionally comprising:
a pair of clamps, one of said clamps being fixedly coupled to each of said second ends of said first and second connecting cables.
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10. The test lead cable retraction system as in claim 1, further comprising:
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a first elongate portion extending from said first side of said base, said first elongate member being located generally adjacent to said first end and said fourth side of said base, said first elongate member extending to a point generally adjacent to said first ring in said first spool;
a second elongate portion extending from said first side of said base, said second elongate member being located generally adjacent to said second end and said fourth side of said base, said second elongate member extending to a point generally adjacent to said second ring in said second spool;
wherein said first electrical contact is mounted on said first elongate member; and
wherein said second electrical contact is mounted on said second elongate member.
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11. The test lead cable retraction system as in claim 1, further comprising:
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a pair of bores, each of said bores being in said second side of said base and extending through said fourth side of said base; and
a fastening means for fastening said base to said meter, said fastening means comprising a pair of screws, one of said screws being inserted in each of said pair of bores.
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12. A test lead cable retraction system comprising:
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a base, said base having a first side, a second side, a third side, and a fourth side, a first end and a second end, wherein said first side is an upper surface of said base;
a pillar, said pillar being fixedly mounted to said upper surface of said base, said pillar being generally located at a medial location on said first side of said base, said pillar being located generally adjacent to said second side of said base, said pillar being oriented generally perpendicular to a plane of said upper surface, said pillar having an end extending away from said base;
an arm, said arm extending from said end of said pillar, said arm being oriented generally horizontal to said plane of said first side, said arm extending away from a plane of said second side of said base;
a first bore, said first bore extending through said arm, said first bore being oriented generally parallel to said plane of said second side;
an axle inserted in said first bore, said axle being fixedly mounted in said first bore, said axle having a first end and a second end;
a pole, said pole being fixedly coupled to said arm, said pole being oriented generally perpendicular to a plane of said first side of said upper surface of said base, said pole extending away from said upper surface of said base;
a platform, said platform being fixedly coupled to said pole, said platform lying in a plane extending generally parallel to said plane of said upper surface of said base, said platform extending from said pole toward said first end of said base and from said pole toward said second end of said base;
a second bore and a third bore for receiving said cables, said second bore being located in a portion of said platform between said pillar and said first end of said base, said third bore being in a portion of said platform between said pillar and said second end of said base;
a first spool for holding a test lead cable, said first spool being rotatably mounted on said axle, said first spool being generally located between said pillar and said first end of said axle, said first spool having an outside edge and an inside edge, wherein said outside edge of said first spool is located generally adjacent to said first end of said axle, said first spool having a middle portion, said middle portion of said first spool having a diameter less than a diameter of said outside and said inside edges of said spool;
a second spool for holding a test lead cable, said second spool being rotatably mounted on said axle, said second spool being generally located between said pillar and said second end of said axle, said second spool having an outside edge and an inside edge, wherein said outside edge of said second spool is located generally adjacent to said second end of said axle, said second spool having a middle portion, said middle portion of said second spool having a diameter less than a diameter of said outside and said inside edges of an second spool;
a pair of rings, one of said rings being mounted on each of said outside edges of said first and second spools, each of said rings being formed of an electrically conductive material and having an electronic connection thereon, each of said electronic connections extending through said outside edges of said first and second spools into said middle portions of said first and second spools, said rings being formed from conductive material;
a first spring for rotationally biasing said first spool against rotation with respect to said axle in a first rotational direction, said first spring being a spiral coiled spring, said first spring being generally annular and having a generally rectangular shaped cross-section, said first spring having a first end and a second end, said first spring being mounted on said axle between said inside edge of said first spool and said pillar, said first end of said first spring being fixedly coupled to said axle, said second end of said first spring being coupled to said inside edge of said first spool, wherein turning said first spool in a first rotational direction tightens the radius of the coils of said first spring such that said first spring is biased against rotation in said first rotational direction;
a second spring for rotationally biasing said second spool against rotation with respect to said axle in a first rotational direction, said second spring being substantially similar to said first spring, said second spring being mounted on said axle between said inside edge of said second spool and said pillar, a first end of said second spring being fixedly coupled to said axle, a second end of said spring being fixedly coupled to said inside edge of said second spool, wherein turning said second spool in a first rotational direction tightens the radius of the coils of said second spring such that said second spring is biased against rotation in said first rotational direction;
a first connecting cable, said first connecting cable having a first end, a second end and a middle portion, said first end of said first connecting cable being electrically coupled to said electrical connection in said outside edge of said first spool, said second end of said first connecting cable being inserted through said second bore of said platform, said middle portion of said first connecting cable being wound about said middle portion of said first spool;
a second connecting cable, said second connecting cable having a first end, a second end and a middle portion, said first end of said first connecting cable being electrically coupled to said electrical connection in said outside edge of said second spool, said second end of said second connecting cable being inserted through said third bore in said platform, said middle portion of said second connecting cable being wound about said middle portion of said second spool, wherein said first and second connecting cables are formed from conductive metal and encased in nonconductive material;
a pair of clamps, one of said clamps being fixedly coupled to each of said second ends of said first and second connecting cables, said clamps being alligator clips;
a first elongate member, said first elongate member extending from said first side of said base, said first elongate member being located generally adjacent to said first end and said fourth side of said base, said first elongate member extending to a point generally adjacent to said first ring in said first spool;
a second elongate member, said second elongate member extending from said first side of said base, said second elongate member being located generally adjacent to said second end and said fourth side of said base, said second elongate member extending to a point generally adjacent to said second ring in said second spool;
a first electrical contact, said first electrical contact being mounted on said first elongate member, said first electrical contact being abutted against said first ring;
a second electrical contact, said second electrical contact being mounted on said second elongate member, said second electrical contact being abutted against said second ring;
a first linking cable, said first linking cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said first linking cable being electrically coupled to said first electrical contact, wherein said second end of said first linking cable is electrically coupled to a meter;
a second linking cable, said second linking cable having a first end and a second end, said second end of said first linking cable being electrically coupled to said second electrical contact, wherein second end of said second linking cable is electrically coupled to said meter;
a fourth bore and a fifth bore, each of said fourth and fifth bore being in said second side of said base and extending through said fourth side of said base; and
a fastening means for fastening said base to said meter, said fastening means comprising a pair of screws, one of said screws being inserted in each of said fourth and fifth bores.
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Specification