External drive feature for a cable reel
AssigneeOptical Cable Corporation
InventorsLarry D. Hall, Venkata R. Penumatcha, Nicolas P. Guiffault
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cable reel system includes a cable reel configured to wind and unwind cable; an external drive feature integrated with the cable reel, the external drive feature having a predetermined geometric shape; a coupling device configured to interface with the external drive feature and connect to an external drive source; and wherein the external drive feature and the coupling device form a connection that prevents slippage and enables transfer of rotational motion from the external drive source to the cable reel for automated retraction of the cable.
Claims10
A cable reel system comprising:
- a cable reel configured to wind and unwind cable;
- an external drive feature integrated with the cable reel, the external drive feature having a predetermined geometric shape;
- a coupling device configured to interface with the external drive feature and connect to an external drive source;
- and
- wherein the external drive feature and the coupling device form a connection that prevents slippage and enables transfer of rotational motion from the external drive source to the cable reel for automated retraction of the cable.
A method of retracting cable comprising:
- providing a cable reel having an external drive feature with a predetermined geometric shape;
- connecting an external drive source to the external drive feature using a coupling device;
- forming a slip-resistant connection between the external drive feature and the coupling device;
- and
- activating the external drive source to rotate the cable reel and automatically retract extended cable without manual winding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.