A device for storing excess electrical cord length on or near an electrical outlet. The device features one or more protrusions or cleats that extend away from the surface of the outlet cover into a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the outlet cover rests. Each protrusion has an attachment portion, a body portion and a flange located at the end or terminus of each protrusion. The flange is shaped to retain electrical cords that are wrapped around the body of the device in that the flange extends away from the terminus of the protrusion into a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the outlet cover. Further, the body includes an opening through which a plug can be passed. Alternately, the device could feature two or more protrusions side by side and need not be directly attached to an electrical outlet cover.

A crane (2), more particularly a mobile fast-erecting crane, having at least one supply connection to which a supply line (16), more particularly a power cable, can be connected, wherein the supply line can be wound on a cable drum (15), which can be mounted on a drum mount (10) on the crane, with the cable drum being mounted to rotate on a drum support frame (18), which has running gear (18) for moving the cable drum over the ground and which has releasable mounting means, shaped to match the drum mount of the crane, for separably mounting the drum support frame on the drum mount of the crane. The invention further relates to a cable drum unit for winding a supply line (16) of a crane (2).

The method of mechanically controlling the rotation of a spool comprising a clutch providing a first position in which a first motive force is applied to the spool through the clutch, providing a second position in which a second motive force is applied to the spool through the clutch, providing third position intermediate to the first position and the second position in which both the first motive force and the second motive forces are applied to the spool through the clutch, such that there during the movement between the first position, the third position, and the second position there is no time at which at least one of the first motive force or the second motive force is not applied to the spool.

A strap winding, storage, and dispensing assembly for storing and dispensing a plurality of straps includes a spacing element engaged to and extending between a pair of plates. Each of a set of strap stowing units engaged to the pair of plates comprises a spindle having a winding element and a braking element operationally engaged thereto. The spindle can engage a respective end of a strap so that the strap is removably engaged to the spindle. The winding element is positioned to selectively rotate the spindle, in a first direction, to coil the strap therearound. The braking element is engaged to a respective one of the plates and is positioned to selectively engage the spindle, to prevent rotation thereof, to retain the strap therearound. The braking element also is positioned to selectively disengage the spindle so that the spindle can rotate in a second direction to uncoil the strap.

A retractable tool lanyard comprises a housing, a drum rotatably connected to the housing, a biasing member interconnecting the housing and the drum, a cord operatively connected to the drum and adapted to be wound about and paid out from the drum, and an engaging mechanism. The engaging mechanism comprises a locking plate connected to the drum, at least one lock pawl connected to the locking plate, and a ratchet plate. When the drum rotates at a predetermined speed, the at least one lock pawl pivots from an unlocked position to a locked position to engage the ratchet plate thereby rotating the ratchet plate with the drum. At least one of a braking mechanism and a clicker pawl are used to create friction to assist in reducing a rate of rotation of the drum.

A hose guide for a hose reel deck box is provided. More specifically, the hose guide is a one piece, or unitary body, component. The unitary body hose guide is structured to snap-fit to one or two travel bars that are part of the unitary body of the hose reel deck box housing assembly. The hose guide preferably includes two semi-enclosed passages that are structured to be slidably coupled to the travel bars.

There is disclosed a surveillance apparatus comprising:—a retractable support member the member having a first end and a second end; a housing; a spooling mechanism mounted at the housing, and being rotatable relative to the housing, and being attached to the second end of the retractable support member, the spooling mechanism being:

Operable to rotate in a first direction to convert the retractable support member from a coiled condition to an extended condition and thereby pay-out the support member from the housing,

Operable to rotate in a second direction opposite to the first to convert the retractable support member from the extended condition to the coiled condition and thereby retract the support member into the housing;

A mount attached to the first end of the retractable support member; A surveillance device attached to the mount for receiving environmental signals, a human interface remote from the surveillance device; and an electrical connection operably connecting the surveillance device to the human interface, the electrical connection comprising an electrical rotary joint between the housing and the spooling mechanism, such that the surveillance device may be supported, remote from the human interface by paying out the member.

The present invention relates to decoys for simulating the movement of animals on land, air, or water. The invention includes a small, enclosed, and portable unit that comprises a motor, a rechargeable power supply, a timing control mechanism, and a spool attached to a line. The line extends from the unit and attaches to one or more animal decoys and, at the end, to an anchoring mechanism (e.g., an anchor placed in the water or a tether attached to a tree or other stationary support). The anchoring mechanism preferably is attached to the line via a bungee cord or other flexible connection that exhibits elasticity. The preferred embodiment of the invention comprises four main parts: (1) a string portion, which extends from an anchor system to a mechanical unit; (2) one or more animal decoys attached to the string portion; (3) an anchor assembly attached to one end of the string assembly for creating tension in the string assembly and securing its position; and (4) a mechanical unit containing a low-power, motorized spool assembly, a rechargeable power supply, a spool, and a timing mechanism for repeatedly winding and releasing the string portion.

A fiber optic retractable cord reel assembly is disclosed. The fiber optic cord reel assembly includes a continuous fiber optic cord with a retractable end enclosed in a shroud and a stationary end exposed from the shroud. The retractable cord reel may have a rotatable ferrule configured to adapt to an expandable coil having various trajectories within the cord reel.

A switching mechanism for traction device is provided, including: a push-pull button 1, a push-pull button decoration ring 2, a switching button 3, a reset spring 4, a right shell 5, a reel 6 and a left shell 7; wherein the push-pull button decoration ring 2 is sleeved on the push-pull button 1, in such a manner that the push-pull button 1 is fitted with a cambered surface of the left shell 7 and a cambered surface of the right shell 5; the switching button 3 is sleeved in the push-pull button 1; the push-pull button 1, the push-pull button decoration ring 2 and the switching button 3 form an integrated unit and are provided on the right shell 5 and the left shell 7. Sealing treatment is performed, in such a manner that deep hole directly entering internal part of the products is prevented.