# US 8,740,127 B2 · Cable retractor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,740,127 B2 - Document ID: US8740127B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/795,611 - Filed: 2010-06-07 - Published: 2011-01-13 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-11 - Assignees: RGB Systems, Inc. - Applicants: Matthew Soper; Craig Fitzpatrick - Inventors: Matthew Soper; Craig Fitzpatrick - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8740127B2 ## CPC - B65H 75/4421: {acting directly on the material} - B65H 75/368: {with pulleys} - H02G 11/003: {using gravity-loaded or spring-loaded loop} - B65H 2701/34: electric cords or electric power cables - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - H02G: INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES, OR OF COMBINED OPTICAL AND ELECTRIC CABLES OR LINES ## Abstract A cable retractor is provided. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the cable retractor is articulate, comprising an articulate housing which comprises a cable stop housing pivotably coupled to a pulley housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the cable retractor also comprises a first pulley assembly coupled to the pulley housing, an end cap coupled to the pulley housing, a spring coupled to the end cap, and a second pulley assembly coupled to the spring. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the first pulley assembly and the second pulley assembly are disposed within the pulley housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a cable stop assembly is coupled to the cable stop housing. In accordance with at least one embodiment, several of the parts are separable to facilitate installation or replacement of a cable. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cable retractor comprising: a pulley housing; a first pulley configured to engage a first portion of a cable coupled to said pulley housing via a first axle, said first pulley configured to rotate about said first axle; a second pulley assembly comprising a second pulley configured to engage a second portion of said cable coupled to said second pulley assembly configured to allow the second pulley assembly to translate with respect to the first pulley assembly; a first spring coupled to the second pulley assembly, wherein the first spring urges the second pulley assembly away from the first pulley; a cable stop housing comprising a cable stop mechanism pivotably coupled to said pulley housing via said first axle; said cable stop housing configured to pivot about said first axle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cable retractor of claim 1 wherein said cable stop mechanism comprises: a cable stop cam; a cable stop actuator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cable retractor of claim 2 wherein said cable stop actuator comprises an actuator button disposed at a first end of said cable stop actuator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cable retractor of claim 3 wherein said cable stop actuator engages said cable stop cam at a second end of said cable stop actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cable retractor of claim 4 wherein said cable stop housing comprises a cable engagement surface adjacent to said cable stop cam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cable retractor of claim 5 wherein said cable stop housing comprises a cable stop spring that biases a lobe of said cable stop cam towards said cable engagement surface. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The cable retractor of claim 6 wherein said cable stop spring engages said cable stop housing and said cable stop cam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cable retractor of claim 7 wherein said cable stop spring is disposed about an axle of said cable stop cam. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The cable retractor of claim 5 wherein said cable stop actuator is configured to be movable between a first position at which said lobe of said cable stop cam is biased towards said cable engagement surface and a second position at which said lobe of said cable stop cam is disposed away from said cable engagement surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The cable retractor of claim 9 wherein said cable stop spring biases said cable stop actuator towards said first position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cable retractor of claim 1 further comprising a damper coupled to the first spring to control retraction speed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cable retractor of claim 11 wherein the damper comprises a rotary damper. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cable retractor of claim 1 further comprising first and second mounts for mounting said cable retractor to a cable access enclosure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cable retractor of claim 13 wherein said first mount comprises a mounting lug attached to a first end of said pulley housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cable retractor of claim 14 wherein said second mount comprises an orifice formed in said cable stop housing. ### Claim 16 A cable retractor comprising: a pulley housing; a first pulley configured to engage a first portion of a cable coupled to said pulley housing via a first axle, said first pulley configured to rotate about an axis; a second pulley assembly comprising a second pulley configured to engage a second portion of said cable coupled to said second pulley assembly configured to allow the second pulley assembly to translate with respect to the first pulley assembly; a first spring coupled to the second pulley assembly, wherein the first spring urges the second pulley assembly away from the first pulley; a cable stop housing comprising a cable stop mechanism pivotably coupled to said pulley housing adjacent to said first pulley; said cable stop housing configured to pivot about said axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cable retractor of claim 16 wherein said cable stop mechanism comprises: a cable stop cam; a cable stop actuator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The cable retractor of claim 16 further comprising a damper coupled to the first spring to control retraction speed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The cable retractor of claim 16 wherein said cable stop actuator comprises an actuator button disposed at a first end of said cable stop actuator. ### Claim 20 A cable retractor comprising: a pulley housing; a first pulley configured to engage a first portion of a cable coupled to said pulley housing via a first axle, said first pulley configured to rotate about a first axis; a second pulley assembly comprising a second pulley configured to engage a second portion of said cable coupled to said second pulley assembly configured to allow the second pulley assembly to translate with respect to the first pulley assembly; a first spring coupled to the second pulley assembly, wherein the first spring urges the second pulley assembly away from the first pulley; a cable stop housing comprising a cable stop mechanism pivotably coupled to said pulley housing adjacent to said first pulley; said cable stop housing configured to pivot about a second axis; wherein said cable stop housing is configured to engage a cable access enclosure; and wherein said cable stop housing comprises a cable access enclosure engagement notch configured to engage said cable access enclosure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The cable retractor of claim 20 wherein said cable stop housing comprises a cable access enclosure engagement slot configured to receive a rod for securing said cable retractor to said cable access enclosure. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The cable retractor of claim 21 wherein said cable stop housing comprises a cable access enclosure mounting block comprising a slot configured to receive said rod. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The cable retractor of claim 22 wherein said cable access enclosure mounting block comprises a cable access enclosure mounting block screw configured to secure said cable access enclosure mounting block to said rod. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The cable retractor of claim 21 wherein said pulley housing comprises a mounting lug comprising a mounting lug aperture configured to receive a rod. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The cable retractor of claim 20 wherein said cable stop housing comprises a cable access enclosure engagement slot configured to receive a fastener for securing said cable retractor to said cable access enclosure. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The cable retractor of claim 25 wherein said cable stop housing comprises a cable access enclosure mounting block comprising a slot configured to receive said fastener. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The cable retractor of claim 26 wherein said cable access enclosure mounting block comprises a cable access enclosure mounting block screw configured to secure said cable access enclosure mounting block to said fastener. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The cable retractor of claim 25 wherein said pulley housing comprises a mounting lug comprising a mounting lug aperture configured to receive a fastener. ### Claim 29 A cable retractor comprising: a first pulley assembly; a second pulley assembly configured to allow the second pulley assembly to translate radially with respect to the first pulley assembly; a first spring coupled to the second pulley assembly, wherein the first spring urges the second pulley assembly away from the first pulley assembly; a cable stop assembly operable to frictionally engage a first portion of a cable disposed about the first and second pulley assemblies; a pulley housing in which the first pulley assembly and the second pulley assembly are disposed; and a cable stop housing in which the cable stop assembly is disposed, wherein the pulley housing is pivotably attached to the cable stop housing. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The cable retractor of claim 29 further comprising: a cable clamp assembly attached to the pulley housing.