A payout spool for a cable includes a base, a spool, and a disconnect/reconnect device. The cable extends between a first and a second end. The payout spool pays out the cable when the first end of the cable is pulled away from the payout spool. The base includes a terminal for transmitting and/or receiving a signal to and/or from the cable. The spool is rotatably mounted to the base about an axis. The spool is adapted to unwrap the cable about a wrapping area of the spool when the spool is rotated about the axis. The disconnect/reconnect device may be adapted to disconnect the second end of the cable from the terminal when the payout spool pays out the cable and reconnect the same when the payout spool is not paying out the cable.

In some implementations, a reeling device may receive material via a receiving end of a set of guiding blocks positioned around a reel. The set of guiding blocks are configured with an opening at the receiving end and with one or more inner surfaces configured to guide the material on a path around a surface of the reel. The one or more inner surfaces of the set of guiding blocks are arc-shaped to generally follow the surface of the reel. The reeling device may operate a motor that rotates the reel in a loading direction to facilitate loading the material onto the reel. The set of guiding blocks travel generally away from the surface of the reel based on the material being received and/or the motor operating in the loading direction.

In some implementations, a reeling device may receive material via a receiving end of a set of guiding blocks positioned around a reel. The set of guiding blocks are configured with an opening at the receiving end and with one or more inner surfaces configured to guide the material on a path around a surface of the reel. The one or more inner surfaces of the set of guiding blocks are arc-shaped to generally follow the surface of the reel. The reeling device may operate a motor that rotates the reel in a loading direction to facilitate loading the material onto the reel. The set of guiding blocks travel generally away from the surface of the reel based on the material being received and/or the motor operating in the loading direction.

A telescoping branch trimmer includes a telescoping pole. The telescoping pole has a telescoping lock for locking the length of the telescoping pole. A cutter head is mounted at one end of the telescoping pole and an actuation cord is interfaced to an actuator of the cutter head such that a pulling force applied to the actuation cord closes a cutting mechanism of the cutter head. An enclosure has a spring-loaded spool, a leader passing through the enclosure is interfaced to the spring-loaded spool for taking in the leader by spring force. The end of the leader that is distal from the enclosure is removably attached to the actuation cord (e.g., by a clip) to facilitate storage and replacement of the leader and enclosure. The leader is locked from entering/exiting the enclosure until an unlock button is pressed.

A swimming pool cleaner coupled to a hose, wherein the hose is configured to automatically extend and retract

A reel based closure device for tensioning a tension member is described herein. The reel based closure device includes a housing that defines a vertical axis, a plurality of teeth operably coupled with the housing, a spool rotatably positioned within the housing, and an engagement member comprising one or more teeth that engage with the plurality of teeth during a rotation of the spool. A dial or knob is operably coupled with the spool so that a rotation of the dial or knob effects the rotation of the spool to wind the tension member about the spool. A length of each tooth that is operably coupled with the housing is substantially longer than a length of each tooth of the engagement member.

A reel auxiliary device includes a shell, a locking mechanism, a decelerating mechanism and a transmission part. A first side of the shell is provided with a first groove, and a second side of the shell is provided with a second groove. The locking mechanism is arranged in the first groove, and is configured to control locking of a reel. The decelerating mechanism is arranged in the second groove. The shell, the locking mechanism, the decelerating mechanism, and the transmission part are connected through a connecting part, and the shell, the locking mechanism, the decelerating mechanism, the transmission part and the connecting part are arranged coaxially. A reel including the auxiliary device is further provided.

Lacing engine systems, apparatus, and methods of operation are discussed. In an example, a lacing engine apparatus can include a housing, a drivetrain, and a lace take-up mechanism for retracting a length of lace cable upon activation. The drivetrain can include various reduction gears to reduce rotational speed out of the motor and power the lace take-up mechanism. The lace take-up mechanism can include structures such as a double-yoke, a radial pulley including an outer rotating disc and an inner stationary disc, a variable take-up spool, or a zip-strip mechanism.

A visual inspection posable invertebrate robot (VIPIR) borescope camera system can inspect components in difficult to reach locations. The system enables dexterous robotic inspection of worksites and areas that were heretofore impossible to inspect via extravehicular activities (EVA) and fixed situational awareness cameras. VIPIR may include: (1) a main drive assembly; (2) a reel system; (3) a video borescope assembly (VBA); (4) an enhanced motorized zoom lens (EMZL); (5) a fixed camera assembly (FCA); (6) a support structure; and/or (7) a main electronics box (MEB).

A fastening device includes a case unit, a spool, a connecting unit, a knob and an engaging unit. The case unit includes a wall forming a receiving space, a partition separates the receiving space into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, a through hole located at the partition, and a base detachably connected to at least one part of the wall. The spool is located at the lower chamber. The knob is connected to the connecting unit. The engaging unit is located at the upper chamber. After the connecting unit is inserted into the spool, the through hole and the engaging unit to couple to the knob, the partition, the spool, the connecting unit, the knob and the engaging unit are connected integrally without being separated from each other while the base is separated from the at least one part of the wall.