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US 12,421,075 B2Granted
Cord reel
OwnerKenneth Forsterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims16
A method of retrofitting a cord reel, comprising:
- providing a cord reel comprising:
- a housing comprising a first sidewall defining a first partial cavity, a second sidewall defining a second partial cavity, wherein the first sidewall is detachably connected to the second sidewall to define a spool-receiving cavity, the housing being assembled by pin connectors that extend through pin-receiving apertures of the first sidewall;
- a spool disposed within the spool-receiving cavity of the housing;
- a first port formed in the first side of the housing;
- a first length of cord and extending from the housing via the first port;
- a second port defined by cooperating recesses in the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a second length of cord being wound around the spool and extending out of the housing via the second port, the second length of cord being electrically connected to the first length of cord and carried by the spool such that the second length of cord is retractable;
- providing a side weather guard that that is sized to cover the first port on the first sidewall and comprises:
- a series of attachment apertures that align with the pin-receiving apertures of the housing;
- a cavity that receives the first length of cord that exits the first port;
- and
- an aperture that permits the first length of cord to pass therethrough;
- removing the pin connectors from the housing;
- and
- placing the side weather guard over the first port and aligning the series of attachment apertures with the pin-receiving apertures in the housing and attaching the side weather guard to the first sidewall with the pin connectors.
11 more elements
A cord reel for a retractable cord, the cord reel comprising:
- a housing comprising a first sidewall defining a first partial cavity, a second sidewall defining a second partial cavity, wherein the first sidewall is detachably connected to the second sidewall to define a spool-receiving cavity, the first sidewall having pin-receiving apertures that receive pin connectors used to assemble the cord reel;
- a spool disposed within the spool-receiving cavity of the housing;
- a first port formed in the first side of the housing;
- a first length of cord extending from the housing via the first port;
- a second port defined by cooperating recesses in the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a second length of cord being wound around the spool and extending out of the housing via the second port, the second length of cord being electrically connected to the first length of cord and carried by the spool such that the second length of cord is retractable;
- and
- a side weather guard mounted to the first sidewall, the side weather guard covering the first port, the side weather guard comprising a complementary first port through which the first length of cord extends, the side weather guard having attachment apertures that correspond with the pin-receiving apertures of the housing, the side weather guard being mounted by removing and replacing the pin connectors such that the pin connectors engage the side weather guard, the first sidewall and the second sidewall.
4 more elements
A method of retrofitting a cord reel, comprising:
- providing a cord reel comprising:
- a housing comprising a first sidewall defining a first partial cavity, a second sidewall defining a second partial cavity, wherein the first sidewall is detachably connected to the second sidewall to define a spool-receiving cavity, the housing being assembled by pin connectors that are received within pin-receiving apertures of the first sidewall;
- a spool disposed within the spool-receiving cavity of the housing;
- a first port formed in the first side of the housing;
- a first length of cord and extending from the housing via the first port;
- and
- a second port defined by cooperating recesses in the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a second length of cord being wound around the spool and extending out of the housing via the second port, the second length of cord being electrically connected to the first length of cord and carried by the spool such that the second length of cord is retractable;
- providing a cord weather guard that comprises a mounting flange and a sidewall that extends from the mounting flange, the mounting flange and the sidewall defining a central passage, the sidewall terminating in a stopper-receiving surface at a remote end relative to the mounting flange;
- and
- installing the cord weather guard by:
- threading the second length of cord through the central passage of the cord weather guard;
- separating the first sidewall and the second sidewall;
- placing the mounting flange of the cord weather guard within the spool-receiving cavity such that the sidewall is surrounded by the second port;
- and
- re-engaging the first sidewall and the second sidewall to secure the cord weather guard in place.
12 more elements
A cord reel for a retractable cord, the cord reel comprising:
- a housing comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, wherein the first sidewall is detachably connected to the second sidewall to define a spool-receiving cavity, the housing being assembled by pin connectors that are received within pin-receiving apertures of the first sidewall;
- a spool disposed within the spool-receiving cavity of the housing;
- a first port formed in the first side of the housing;
- a first length of cord and extending from the housing via the first port;
- a second port defined by cooperating recesses in the first sidewall and the second sidewall, a second length of cord being wound around the spool and extending out of the housing via the second port, the second length of cord being electrically connected to the first length of cord and carried by the cord reel such that the second length of cord is retractable;
- and
- a cord weather guard that is carried by the second port, the cord weather guard comprising a mounting flange, and a sidewall that extends from the mounting flange, the mounting flange and the sidewall defining a central passage, the sidewall terminating in a stopper-receiving surface at a remote end relative to the mounting flange, the cord weather guard being installed by separating the first sidewall and the second sidewall, placing the mounting flange of the cord weather guard within the spool-receiving cavity such that the sidewall extends from the second port, and re-engaging the first sidewall and the second sidewall.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.