Retractable cord storage reel assembly

Abstract

A retractable cord reel assembly comprises a reel rotatably supported within a frame or housing for rotation about an axis; a biasing spring engaged with the reel; and a single unitary electrically conductive cord having a distal end portion affixed to the housing, and a movable proximal end, wherein the cord is wound about the reel in a plurality of contiguous segments. The cord reel comprises separate coaxial cord-take-up and cord-storage compartments, having, in an initial cord configuration, a fixed-length segment of cord wound in a spiral around a hub in the cord-take-up compartment, and a segment comprising helical windings of the cord in the cord-storage compartment. The cord reel assembly described herein can be used in modern electronic data and power transmission applications without the significant losses of signal integrity or power, commonly associated with conventional cord reel assemblies.

Claims

1. A cord reel assembly comprising: (a) a reel rotatably supported by a frame for rotation about an axis; (b) a biasing spring engaged with the reel; (c) an electrically conductive cord having a distal end portion affixed to the frame, and wound about the reel in a plurality of contiguous segments, a movable proximal end, and a diameter; wherein: the frame comprises a first planar member perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel, a second planar member spaced from and parallel to the first planar member, the first and second planar members arranged in a fixed relation to each other; the reel comprises a cord take-up portion adjacent the first planar member of the frame and a cord storage portion coaxial with the take-up portion and axially spaced therefrom in the direction of the second planar member of the frame; the cord take-up portion of the reel comprises a central take-up hub and an annular cord take-up platform connected to and surrounding the take-up hub, and the cord take-up platform is spaced from the first planar member of the frame to define an annular cord-take-up compartment between the first planar member and the take-up platform, wherein a spacing between the first planar member of the frame and the take-up platform is greater than one cord diameter in a region immediately adjacent the take-up hub and at least one cord diameter near the peripheral region of the cord-take-up portion of the reel; the cord storage portion comprises a cord storage hub that is coaxial with the cord take-up hub, one axial end of the cord storage hub is connected to the cord-take-up platform and the other axial end of the cord storage hub is connected to a cord storage platform that is spaced from the cord take-up platform, such that the cord take-up hub, the cord take-up platform, the cord storage hub and the cord storage platform rotate together about the same axis of rotation; and the spacing between the cord storage platform and the take-up platform defines a cord storage compartment; a fixed-length segment of the cord is disposed in a spiral winding between the distal end portion of the cord and a transitional segment of the cord that extends through a passageway within the take-up hub and the storage hub; a movable segment of the cord extends from the transitional segment to the proximal end of the cord; and the movable segment of cord is at least twice as long as the fixed-length segment of cord in the take-up compartment; in an initial storage configuration, the moveable segment of cord is disposed in a plurality of helical windings around the cord storage hub in the same winding direction as the spiral winding of the fixed-length segment of cord in the take-up compartment; in use, when a pulling force is applied to the proximal end of the cord, the reel rotates thereby unwinding the moveable segment of cord from the cord storage hub and withdrawing the movable segment out of the cord storage compartment; the biasing spring exerts a rotational biasing force opposed to the pulling force; the rotation of the reel causes the spiral of the fixed-length segment of cord in the take-up compartment to begin unwinding, thereby expanding the spiral toward the periphery of the cord take-up platform as a portion of the moveable segment of cord longer than the fixed-length segment is withdrawn from the cord storage compartment, the continued rotation of the reel causes the fixed-length segment of cord in the take-up compartment to rewind around the take-up hub in the opposite direction to the helical windings in the cord storage compartment, and when a portion of the moveable segment of cord about twice as long as the fixed-length segment has been withdrawn from the cord storage compartment, no more cord can be unwound from the cord storage hub; and when the pulling force is abated, the biasing spring urges the reel to rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation caused by the pulling force, thus retracting the moveable segment of cord back onto the cord storage hub in a reversal of the unwinding action caused by the pulling force, and thereby also reversing the spiral unwinding and rewinding actions in the take-up compartment, so that when the entire second length of cord is rewound onto the cord storage hub, the reel assembly is back in the initial cord storage configuration.

2. The cord reel assembly of claim 1, wherein the cord take-up platform is bowl-shaped with a peripheral rim and a depressed region adjacent the take-up hub.

3. The cord reel assembly of claim 2, wherein the rim of the cord take-up platform is spaced at least one cord diameter from the first planar member of the frame.

4. The cord reel assembly of claim 3, wherein a releasable locking mechanism is engageable with the reel, the locking mechanism being arranged and configured to arrest rewinding of the reel in a selectable manner.

5. The cord reel assembly of claim 2, wherein the depressed region of the cord take-up platform is spaced at least about two cord diameters from the first planar member of the frame.

6. The cord reel assembly of claim 5, wherein a releasable locking mechanism is engageable with the reel, the locking mechanism being arranged and configured to arrest rewinding of the reel in a selectable manner.

7. The cord reel assembly of claim 2, wherein a releasable locking mechanism is engageable with the reel, the locking mechanism being arranged and configured to arrest rewinding of the reel in a selectable manner.

8. The cord reel assembly of claim 1, wherein a releasable locking mechanism is engageable with the reel, the locking mechanism being arranged and configured to arrest rewinding of the reel in a selectable manner.

9. The cord reel assembly of claim 1, wherein a peripheral wall substantially surrounding the reel connects the first and second planar members of the frame; the peripheral wall defining an opening through which the proximal end of the cord extends.

10. A cord reel assembly comprising: (a) a reel rotatably supported within a housing for rotation about an axis; (b) a biasing spring engaged with the reel; (c) an electrically conductive cord having a distal end portion affixed to the housing, and wound about the reel in a plurality of contiguous segments, a movable proximal end, and a diameter; wherein: the housing comprises a first planar member perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the reel, a second planar member spaced from and parallel to the first planar member, and a peripheral wall connecting the first and second planar members substantially surrounding the reel; the peripheral wall defining an opening through which the proximal end of the cord extends; the reel comprises a cord take-up portion adjacent the first planar member of the housing and a cord storage portion coaxial with and axially spaced from the cord take-up portion in the direction of the second planar member of the housing; the cord take-up portion of the reel comprises a central take-up hub and an annular cord take-up platform connected to and surrounding the take-up hub, and the cord take-up platform is spaced from the first planar member of the housing to define an annular cord-take-up compartment between the first planar member and the take-up platform, wherein a spacing between the first planar member of the housing and the take-up platform is greater than one cord diameter in a region immediately adjacent the take-up hub and at least one cord diameter near the peripheral wall of the housing; wherein the cord take-up platform is bowl-shaped with a peripheral rim and a depressed region adjacent the take-up hub; the cord storage reel portion comprises a cord storage hub that is coaxial with the cord take-up hub, one axial end of the cord storage hub is connected to the cord-take-up platform and the other axial end of the cord storage hub is connected to a cord storage platform that is spaced from the cord take-up platform, such that the cord take-up hub, the cord take-up platform, the cord storage hub and the cord storage platform rotate together about the same axis of rotation; and the spacing between the cord storage platform and the take-up platform defines a cord storage compartment; a fixed-length segment of the cord is disposed in a spiral winding between the distal end portion of the cord and a transitional segment of the cord that extends through a passageway within the take-up hub and the storage hub; a movable segment of the cord extends from the transitional segment to the proximal end of the cord; and the movable segment of cord is at least twice as long as the fixed-length segment of cord in the take-up compartment; in an initial cord storage configuration, the moveable segment of cord is disposed in a plurality of helical windings around the cord storage hub in the same winding direction as the spiral winding of the fixed-length segment of cord in the take-up compartment; in use, when a pulling force is applied to the proximal end of the cord, the reel rotates thereby unwinding the moveable segment of cord from the cord storage hub and withdrawing the movable segment out of the cord storage compartment; the biasing spring exerts a rotational biasing force opposed to the pulling force; the rotation of the reel causes the spiral of the fixed-length segment of cord in the take-up compartment to begin unwinding, thereby expanding the spiral toward the peripheral wall of the housing; as a portion of the moveable segment of cord longer than the fixed-length segment is withdrawn from the cord storage compartment, the continued rotation of the reel causes the fixed-length segment of cord in the take-up compartment to rewind around the take-up hub in the opposite direction to the helical windings in the cord storage compartment, and when a portion of the moveable segment of cord about twice as long as the fixed-length segment has been withdrawn from the cord storage compartment, no more cord can be unwound from the cord storage hub; and when the pulling force is abated, the biasing spring urges the reel to rotate in the opposite direction to the rotation caused by the pulling force, thus retracting the moveable segment of cord back onto the cord storage hub in a reversal of the unwinding action caused by the pulling force, and thereby also reversing the spiral unwinding and rewinding actions in the take-up compartment, so that when the entire second length of cord is rewound onto the cord storage hub, the reel assembly is back in the initial cord storage configuration.

11. The cord reel assembly of claim 10, wherein the peripheral rim of the cord take-up platform is spaced at least one cord diameter from the first planar member.

12. The cord reel assembly of claim 11, wherein a releasable locking mechanism is engageable with the reel, the locking mechanism being arranged and configured to arrest rewinding of the reel in a selectable manner.

13. The cord reel assembly of claim 10, wherein the depressed region of the cord take-up platform is spaced at least about two cord diameters from the first planar member of the housing.

14. The cord reel assembly of claim 13, wherein a releasable locking mechanism is engageable with the reel, the locking mechanism being arranged and configured to arrest rewinding of the reel in a selectable manner.

15. The cord reel assembly of claim 10, wherein a releasable locking mechanism is engageable with the reel, the locking mechanism being arranged and configured to arrest rewinding of the reel in a selectable manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cord reel assembly 10.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a top plan view of cord reel assembly 10.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a partially exploded perspective view of cord reel assembly 10.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a perspective exploded view of cord reel assembly 10.

(5) FIG. 5A shows an exploded perspective view of a cord reel illustrating the take-up portion of the reel.

(6) FIG. 5B shows an exploded perspective view of a cord reel illustrating the cord storage portion of the reel.

(7) FIG. 6A shows a top plan view of the cord take-up portion of the reel.

(8) FIG. 6B shows a side elevation view of the cord take-up portion of the reel.

(9) FIG. 6C shows a bottom plan view of the cord take-up portion of the reel.

(10) FIG. 7A shows a top plan view of the cord storage portion of the reel.

(11) FIG. 7B shows a side elevation view of the cord storage portion of the reel.

(12) FIG. 7C shows a bottom plan view of the cord storage portion of the reel.

(13) FIG. 8 illustrates the spiral winding of the fixed-length segment of cord on the cord storage platform around the cord storage hub in the initial cord storage configuration of the cord reel assembly.

(14) FIG. 9 illustrates the expansion and unwinding of the spiral winding of the fixed-length segment of cord on the cord storage platform after the reel has been rotated in response to pulling on the proximal end of the cord.

(15) FIG. 10 illustrates the reversed spiral winding of the fixed-length segment of cord on the cord storage platform after a length of cord longer than the fixed length has been extracted from the cord storage reel.

(16) FIG. 11A shows a cross-sectional view along line XSEC0006-XSEC0006 in FIG. 8, in a perspective view.

(17) FIG. 11B shows a cross-sectional view along line XSEC0006-XSEC0006 in FIG. 8, in a side elevational view.

(18) FIG. 12A shows a cross-sectional view along line XSEC0002-XSEC0002 in FIG. 8, in a perspective view.

(19) FIG. 12B shows a cross-sectional view along line XSEC0002-XSEC0002 in FIG. 8, in a side elevational view.

(20) FIG. 13 shows a plan view illustrating details of how locking mechanism 90 is positioned and arranged in the reel assembly.

(21) FIG. 14A shows details of the base plate of the locking mechanism in a top plan view.

(22) FIG. 14B shows details of the base plate of the locking mechanism in a side elevation view.

(23) FIG. 14C shows details of the base plate of the locking mechanism in a bottom plan view.

(24) FIG. 15A shows details of the ratchet gear of the locking mechanism in a top plan view.

(25) FIG. 15B shows details of the ratchet gear of the locking mechanism in a side elevation view.

(26) FIG. 15C shows details of the ratchet gear of the locking mechanism in a bottom plan view.

(27) FIG. 16A shows details of the rotation sensor of the locking mechanism in a top plan view.

(28) FIG. 16B shows details of the rotation sensor of the locking mechanism in a side elevation view.

(29) FIG. 16C shows details of the rotation sensor of the locking mechanism in a bottom plan view.

(30) FIG. 17A shows details of the biasing spring of the rotation sensor of the locking mechanism in a top plan view.

(31) FIG. 17B shows details of the biasing spring of the rotation sensor of the locking mechanism in a side elevation view.

(32) FIG. 17C shows details of the biasing spring of the rotation sensor of the locking mechanism in a bottom plan view.

(33) FIG. 18A shows details of the cord guide port of the housing in a top plan view.

(34) FIG. 18B shows details of the cord guide port of the housing in a side elevation view.

(35) FIG. 18C shows details of the cord guide port of the housing in a bottom plan view.

(36) FIG. 19A shows details of the spiral biasing spring of the reel in a top plan view.

(37) FIG. 19B shows details of the spiral biasing spring of the reel in a side elevation view.

(38) FIG. 19C shows details of the spiral biasing spring of the reel in a bottom plan view.

(39) FIG. 20A shows details of the locking hub of the reel in a side elevation view.

(40) FIG. 20B shows details of the locking hub of the reel in a bottom plan view.

(41) FIG. 20C shows details of the locking hub of the reel in a side elevation view.

(42) FIG. 21 shows an exploded cross-sectional side elevational view of reel assembly 10.

(43) FIG. 22 shows a cross-sectional side elevational view of the reel assembly 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

(44) While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

(45) Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, 11, 12, 18, 21 and 22, the cord reel assembly and generally indicated by reference numeral 10 has a generally cylindrically shaped stationary two-part frame or housing assembly 11. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the housing assembly includes an upper housing member 16 mated with a complementary-shaped lower housing member 18, between which a two-part cord reel 12 is rotatably mounted. Housing member 16 includes a planar member 15 and a side wall 17 partially surrounding planar member 16. Housing member 18 includes planar member 19 and a side-wall 21 at least partially surrounding planar member 19. Sidewalls 17 and 21 have complementary shapes so that when joined together members 16 and 18 form housing assembly 11 substantially surrounding reel 12. Cord reel 12 comprises a take-up reel portion 38 fixedly attached to cord storage reel portion 40, such that the take-up reel and storage reel rotate together about the same axis. A unitary (one piece) electrically conductive cord 14 is wound about reel 12, with a extractable proximal end portion 20 protruding through cord guide 22 of housing assembly 11 and a fixed distal end portion 24 extending through aperture 26 of housing assembly 11. Cord guide 22 is mounted in housing assembly 11 at the terminus of a cord port 28 projecting tangentially from housing assembly 11. Cord port 28 is defined in cord guide 22, which is mounted between tangential extension 30 of upper housing member 16 and complementary tangential extension 32 of lower housing member 18. A fixed-length segment 34 of cord 14 is spirally wound around take-up hub 36 of cord take-up member 38, with the portion of cord at the center of the spiral winding passed through hub 36 and onto cord storage member 40. An extractable distal segment of cord 14 is wound about cord storage hub 42 in overlapping helical windings 70 that are wound about hub 42 in the same direction as the spiral winding of fixed-length segment 34 around hub 36 in the initial cord storage configuration of reel assembly 10.

(46) Referring to FIGS. 4, 11, 12, 21 and 22, take-up reel portion 38 of reel 12 defines a bowl-shaped upper surface 60 framed by a sloped rim 62. A spiral winding 64 of fixed-length 34 of cord 14 rests within upper surface 60 of take-up reel 38 with distal end portion 24 of cord 14 running along rim 62 and out of cord port 28 where distal portion 24 is fixed in place, e.g., by an adhesive, a knot, compression or any other convenient means. A transitional segment 66 of cord 14 is disposed within passageway 68 defined within take-up hub 36 of take-up reel 38 and the interior 58 of storage hub 42. The cord then passes onto storage reel 40 through passage 56 in cord storage hub 42 and is wound in helical windings 70 around hub 42 in the same winding direction as the spiral winding 64 of the fixed-length 34. A spiral biasing spring 44 is mounted in a receiving channel 72 below storage reel 40 between two shims 46 and 48 with an outer end 50 of biasing spring 44 attached to storage reel 40. Lower hub 74 protrudes into channel 72 and is coaxial with hubs 36 and 42. Lower hub 74 is received within bore 76 of locking hub 54, such that reel 12 can rotate relative to locking hub 54. An inner end 52 of spring 44 is attached to locking hub 54, which is affixed to lower housing member 18 by screw 78 and is coaxial with hubs 36 and 42, such that as reel 12 rotates, biasing spring 44 exerts a counter-rotational force on reel 12. Additional details of biasing spring 44 and locking hub 54 are shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, respectively.

(47) A locking mechanism 90 comprises base plate 92 mounted to lower housing member 18. As best shown in FIGS. 13, 21, and 22, hub 80 of rotation sensor 94 is pivotally mounted on mounting pin 112 of base plate 92 between base plate 92 and interior bottom surface 96 of lower housing member 18. Hub 86 of ratchet gear 100 is rotationally mounted on mounting pin 114 of base plate 92 between base plate 92 and interior bottom surface 96 of lower housing member 18.

(48) Ratchet gear 100 includes twelve bottom teeth 103 and a six top gear teeth 102. The top teeth 102 are disposed in substantially uniform spaced relation to each other around the wheel, as are the bottom teeth 103. The bottom teeth 103 are arranged such that the base of a bottom tooth 103 is aligned with the base of a top tooth 102 and such that the base of a bottom tooth 103 is disposed substantially in the center between each pair of adjacent top teeth 102. The bottom teeth 103 preferably are shaped in triangles that include one side having an acute angle and another side having an obtuse angle with respect to the base. The top teeth 102 preferably are shaped in generally isosceles triangles. When twelve bottom teeth and six top teeth are used, the arc defined by each pair of adjacent bottom teeth 103 is approximately 30 degrees, and the arc defined by each pair of adjacent top teeth 102 is approximately 60 degrees.

(49) Lever arm 98 of sensor 94 engages with top gear teeth 102 on ratchet gear 100. Back-rotation arresting arm 110 of base plate 92 is positioned to engage with lower teeth 103 of ratchet gear 100, to allow rotation of gear 100 in only one direction. Sensor spring 116 is mounted on pin 84 of base plate 92 adjacent sensor 94 and is arranged and adapted so that one of arms 86 of spring 116 contacts sensor 94 to bias sensor tip 104 to point in the direction radially outward from the axis of rotation of reel 12. The locking mechanism 90 is positioned so that sensor tip 104 can engage with internal gear teeth 106 surrounding a portion of spring receiving chamber 72 underneath storage reel 40, and thereby sense rotation of reel 12. As sensor tip 104 is engaged with internal gear teeth 106 of storage reel 40, lever arm 98 engages with teeth 102 of ratchet gear 100 and base lever arm 93 engages with recessed teeth 103 of gear 100, thereby arresting back rotation of the reel 12 while the internal gear teeth 106 are engaged with sensor tip 104. Sensor spring 116 insures that the sensor tip 104 will move into engagement with the internal gear teeth 106 when rotation of reel 12 brings teeth 106 into alignment with sensor 94 by biasing the tip 104 toward the periphery of chamber storage hub 40.

(50) When reel 12 is rotated by withdrawing a portion of cord 14 from storage reel 40, biasing spring 44 is compressed by tightening of the spiral winding thereof. When the pulling force on the withdrawn cord 14 is released, the spring causes reel 12 to rotate back in the opposite direction. When the reel has rotated back sufficiently such that tip 104 can engage with internal gear 106, the locking mechanism can halt the back rotation. Additional details of the components of locking mechanism 90 are shown in FIGS. 14, 15, 16, and 17. The locking mechanism described herein operates in substantially the same way as locking mechanism described, e.g., in U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,485 to Hollowed, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

(51) As shown best in FIGS. 11, 12, and 22, reel 12 is rotationally mounted between housing members 16 and 18 such that the internally geared side of storage reel 40 faces inner bottom surface 96 of housing member 18 and the bowl-shaped upper surface 60 of take-up reel 38 faces inner upper surface 118 of upper housing member 16, and is spaced therefrom. The space around take-up hub 36 between bowl-shaped upper surface 60 and inner surface 118 defines an annular cord take-up compartment 120 in which the fixed-length segment 34 of cord 14 is coiled. As best seen in FIGS. 4, 6, and 7, take-up reel 38 includes mounting tabs 122 and 124 and mounting pin 126 and the interior of storage hub 42 includes receiving slots 128 and 130 and receiving collar 132. Tabs 122 and 124 are arranged to be received within slots 128 and 130, while pin 126 is received within collar 132 to keep take-up reel 38 rotationally locked with storage reel 40. An annular platform surface 138 of storage hub 40 faces rim 62 of take-up reel 38 and is spaced therefrom. The gap between rim 62 and platform surface 138 around hub 42 defines a cord storage compartment 140 in which the helical windings 70 of cord 14 are stored. Passageway 68 of take-up reel 38 opens into the interior 58 of storage hub 42, while hub 42 includes a passage 134 to allow cord 14 to pass from the interior 58 of hub 42 into annular cord storage compartment 140 where the cord is helically wind around hub 42.

(52) The fixed-length of cord 34 wound within the take-up compartment is approximately half the length of the maximum length of cord that is intended to be withdrawn from the reel during use of the cord reel assembly. The helically wound portion 70 of cord 14 within the cord storage compartment 140 when reel 12 is in an initial cord storage configuration (FIG. 8) is longer than the maximum length of cord that can be withdrawn from the cord storage compartment 140 during use. The cord wound around hub 42 of the cord storage compartment 140 has an inner winding connected to the first or inner winding on the cord take-up hub 42 via a transitional segment 66 of cord 14 disposed within hub 36 and interior 58 of hub 42. The fixed potion 34 of cord 14 in the cord take-up compartment 120 is wound in a relatively tight one-dimensional spiral around the take-up hub 36 in the initial cord storage configuration of the reel assembly, while the portion of cord in the cord storage hub is wound in overlapping layers of helical windings 70 thereabout with the proximal end of the cord extending out of reel assembly 10 through cord guide 22.

(53) In use, the housing 11 of the reel assembly 10 is generally affixed to a surface or otherwise held stationary and a pulling force greater than the biasing force of the biasing spring 44 is applied to the proximal end 20 of the cord 14, causing reel 12 to rotate relative to the housing 11, and causes a portion of the cord 14 in the cord storage compartment to unwind and withdraw from reel assembly 10. Simultaneously, the rotation of reel 12 causes the spiral winding of fixed-length segment 34 of cord 14 in the take-up compartment 120 to loosen and expand radially toward the periphery of the take-up compartment 120 (FIG. 9). The gap between the storage platform 138 of storage reel 40 and the rim 62 of take-up reel 38 allows at least the windings nearest the take-up hub 36 to flex slightly in the direction along the rotational axis toward rim 62, which surprisingly allows for a smaller reel size while ameliorating binding of the fixed-length of cord as the spiral windings loosen, compared to prior art reels that include a take-up chamber that is sized to prevent flexing of the cord Once a length of cord 14 approximately equal to the fixed-length segment 34 is withdrawn from storage compartment 140, the continued rotation of reel 12 causes the fixed-length segment 34 in the take-up compartment 120 to rewind on the take-up hub 36 in the opposite direction to the spiral winding thereof in the initial cord storage configuration (FIG. 10). When the fixed-length segment 34 of cord in the take-up compartment 120 is fully rewound in a tight spiral around the take-up hub 36, no more cord 14 can be withdrawn from the reel 12 (FIG. 8).

(54) The locking mechanism 90 keeps the withdrawn cord 14 from retracting back into cord storage compartment 140 when the pulling force on cord 14 is abated or removed. When locking mechanism 90 is disengaged, biasing spring 44 automatically causes cord 14 to withdraw back into cord storage compartment 140 to helically wind around hub 42. If he length of cord withdrawn from storage compartment 140 is longer than fixed-length segment 34, the spiral winding of fixed-length segment 34 of cord 14 in cord take-up compartment 120 loosens and unwinds until a length of cord 14 about equal to fixed-length segment 34 is wound around hub 42, at which point continued rotation of reel 12 to rewind around more of cord 14 into storage compartment 140 causes the fixed-length segment 34 to rewind in the same direction as the helical windings 70 until the entire withdrawn portion of cord 14 is rewound on hub 42. At this point, reel assembly 10 is back in the initial cord storage configuration.

(55) All the parts of the reel assembly, except for example, the screws, are preferably made of a suitable molded synthetic plastic material, although they could be made of metal. It is apparent that the present invention provides an exceedingly compact and economical cord reel construction. It should be understood that numerous modifications may be made in the most preferred form of the invention described without deviating from the broader aspects of the invention.

LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMBERS AND PARTS

Ref # Description of Part

(56) 10 cord reel assembly 11 housing assembly 12 two-part cord reel 14 electrically conductive cord 16 upper housing member 18 lower housing member 20 proximal end of cord 22 cord guide 24 distal end portion of cord 26 aperture in housing 28 cord port in housing 30 tangential extension of upper housing member 32 tangential extension of lower housing member 34 fixed-length segment of cord 36 take-up hub 38 cord take-up member 40 cord storage member 42 cord storage hub 44 44 biasing spring 46 shim 48 shim 50 outer end of biasing spring 52 inner end of biasing spring 54 locking hub 56 passage in cord storage hub 58 interior of cord storage hub 60 bowl-shaped upper surface of cord take-up member 62 rim of cord take-up member 66 transitional segment of cord 68 passageway within take-up hub 70 helical windings of cord 72 spring receiving channel 74 lower hub of cord storage reel 76 internal bore of locking hub 80 hub of rotation sensor 82 hub of ratchet gear 84 mounting pin for sensor biasing spring 86 arms of sensor biasing spring 90 locking mechanism 92 base plate of locking mechanism 94 rotation sensor of locking mechanism 96 interior bottom surface of lower housing member 98 lever arm of rotation sensor 100 ratchet gear of locking mechanism 102 top teeth of ratchet gear 103 bottom teeth of ratchet gear 104 sensor tip 106 internal gear teeth of spring receiving channel 110 back rotation arresting arm of base plate 112 sensor mounting pin of base plate 114 gear mounting pin of base plate 116 rotation sensor spring 118 interior upper surface of upper housing member 120 annular cord take-up compartment 122 mounting tap of take-up reel 124 mounting tap of take-up reel 126 mounting pin of take-up reel 128 tab receiving slot of cord storage hub 130 tab receiving slot of cord storage hub 132 tab receiving collar of cord storage hub 134 passage in cord storage hub 138 annular platform surface of storage reel 140 annular cord storage compartment

(57) All references, including publications, patent applications and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. the terms cord and cable are used herein interchangeably to refer to insulated electrically conductive wires, cords, cables and the like, and are to be given their common meaning in the electric and electronic arts. The use of the terms a and an and the and similar referents in the context of describing the present invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of terms including, having and comprising and like terms are to be construed as open ended terms, meaning including, but not limited to, unless otherwise indicated, or clearly contradicted by context, herein. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., such as) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the present invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the claimed invention. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

(58) The foregoing is an integrated description of the invention as a whole, not merely of any particular element or facet thereof. The description describes preferred embodiments of this invention, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying it out. Of course, upon reading the foregoing description, variations of those preferred embodiments will become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is possible unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.