Retractable cord reels for use with flat electrical cable
AssigneeTelefonix, Inc.
InventorsPaul C. Burke, D. Scott Kalous
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Retractable cord reels are disclosed. The retractable cord reels include a housing portion and a spool disposed within the housing portion. The spool has an outer surface associated with an expansion chamber within the housing portion, an inner channel configured to hold a wound length of flat electrical cable and a passage extending between the outer surface and the inner channel. The retractable cord reels also include a flat electrical cable having a first portion disposed in the expansion chamber, a second portion disposed in the inner channel, and a third portion disposed in the passage to follow a path from the outer surface of the spool to the inner channel.
Claims24
A retractable cord reel, comprising:
- a housing portion;
- a spool disposed within the housing portion and having an outer surface associated with an expansion chamber within the housing portion, an inner channel configured to hold a wound length of flat electrical cable and a passage extending between the outer surface and the inner channel;
- and
- a flat electrical cable having a first portion disposed in the expansion chamber, a second portion disposed in the inner channel, and a third portion disposed in the passage to follow a path from the outer surface of the spool to the inner channel.
A cord reel, comprising:
- a spool including a raised portion having first and second curved portions and a passage disposed between the first and second curved portions;
- and
- a continuous flat cable having a first portion wound on the spool, a second portion extending through the passage and a third portion wound about the raised portion.
A spool for use in a retractable cord reel, comprising:
- an inner channel configured to accommodate a wound length of cable;
- a raised portion having first and second curved portions, each of which has a different radius profile with respect to a rotational axis of the spool;
- and
- a passage disposed between the first and second curved portions and configured to provide a path for a cable to pass from the inner channel of the spool to the raised portion of the spool.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.