The invention relates to an apparatus for unfolding a rolled-up, elongate hollow body, having: at least one elongate hollow body which has a closed cross-sectional profile, and an unfolding mechanism which has a winding core on which the elongate hollow body is rolled up and compressed in a first state and which, by rotation, transfers the elongate hollow body from the first state into an unrolled and unfolded second state, wherein the unfolding mechanism has a supporting device, wherein the supporting device has an inner supporting element which is arranged in a cavity within the elongate hollow body and at least partially lies against the inner wall of the elongate hollow body, and has an outer fixing element which is arranged outside the elongate hollow body in the region of the inner supporting element such that the elongate hollow body can be guided through between the outer fixing element and the inner supporting element, wherein the inner supporting element interacts with the outer fixing element in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner for the axial positional fixing of the inner supporting element without being directly mechanically connected thereto.

A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel comprising a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing. In some embodiments, the reel can include a rotation limiter which can be configured to prevent over-tightening of the lacing system and/or to prevent rotation past the substantially fully loosened state.

A cord reel cable including a polymeric sheath with a conductive EMI drain and a method of manufacture therefor. The cord reel includes a cable comprising power and data conductors, as wells as a single drain wire which is grounded to a cord reel housing or spool or the like. The drain wire contacts an outer ETFE layer surrounding the cable in order to provide EMI shielding to the cable.

A cord reel holder that mounts to a licensin for a cord reel that houses a cord reel with a fixed length cord and a retractable length cord. The retractable length cord is carried by the cord reel such that a length of the retractable length cord that extends from the housing is adjustable by rotating a reel within the housing. The cord reel holder has a housing with a front wall, a rear wall, and connecting sidewalls that maintain the front wall in a fixed position relative to the rear wall. The cord reel housing defines a receptacle that is sized to receive the cord reel. Each of the front wall and the rear wall has a series of apertures that correspond with mounting apertures for mounting a license plate to a vehicle, and the connecting sidewall has connection points for securing the cord reel within the receptacle.

A cord reel has a housing made from a first sidewall and a second sidewall that are detachable and form a spool-receiving cavity. A spool is disposed within the spool-receiving cavity of the housing. A first port is formed in the first side of the housing and a first length of cord extends from the housing via the first port. A second port is defined by cooperating recesses in the first sidewall and the second sidewall and a second length of cord that is wound around the spool retractably extends out of the second port. One or both of a side weather guard and a cord weather guard are installed to protect the cord reel against weather. The side weather guard is mounted to the first sidewall and covers the first port, and the cord weather guard is mounted between the first and second sidewalls to cover the second port.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spring loaded retractable device comprising a frame, a movable part hinged to a first pin and comprising an opening radially aligned to the first pin, wherein a strap is movable through the opening, and wherein the movable part is configured to move from a first position into a second position by rotating around an axis of rotation due to friction between the movable part and the moving strap.

An article of footwear, motorized lacing system, and method includes a motor, a transmission, operatively coupled to the motor, a power source, operatively coupled to the motor, a lace spool, operatively coupled to the motor via the transmission, configured to spool and unspool the lace based on operation of the motor, a printed circuit board, and a housing. The housing contains the motor, the transmission, the power source, the lace spool and the printed circuit board, the printed circuit board positioned between an interior surface of the housing and at least one of the power source and the motor, wherein the interior surface includes a post that extends through a hole formed in the printed circuit board. A flexing of the interior surface causes force on the housing to be at least partially imparted on the at least one of the power source, the transmission, and the motor.

Retractor systems are disclosed that reduce the wear on the retractor line from repeated extensions and retractions. Some embodiments comprise a retractor system having a retractor with a retractor housing having a front surface. A line and a line retraction mechanism can be included within the housing, with the line retraction mechanism urging retraction of the line in a first direction that is substantially parallel to the front surface. A line opening is included in the front surface through which the line extends from the housing at a second direction that is different from the first direction. A personal article attached to the line, and an anti-friction mechanism is included at said line opening to provide a smooth surface upon which the line rides when extending from the housing. Some anti-friction mechanisms comprise an eyelet proximate to said line opening and having a smooth surface that can take many different shapes and sizes, such as a funnel or hour glass shaped surface.

A vehicle-mounted reel utility. A brake wheel is macro-positioned to a non-contact position adjacent to the reel by sliding along a reel-supporting lifting arm. An actuator pivots the brake bracket bringing the wheel into a contact position with the reel. A cable dispenser for figure 8'ing the cable is mounted to the free end of a positioning arm that rotates from a position parallel to a lifting arm to a position perpendicular to the lifting arm. The dispenser is pivotally mounted to the positioning arm, allowing the user to swivel the dispenser about a horizontal arc while maintaining the dispenser in a central lateral position relative to a reel or a vehicle during the swivel movement. A hydraulic circuit controls the dispenser and the actuator that controls the brake wheel from a contact to non-contact position, to coordinate the stopping of cable dispensing.

An apparatus and method for dispensing wire or cable from a reel assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly for dispensing wire from any surface. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly and the external bay. The external bay is capable of freely rotation relative to the outer flange assembly and the inner flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. In yet another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay.