The present invention relates to a cord reel device that is used for various kinds of cord, such as in a handset or an operation terminal device.
In an airplane or other such vehicle for transporting passengers, onboard service systems that offer various kinds of service to the passengers are installed.
For example, the seats on an airplane, etc., may be provided with handsets, operation terminal devices, headphone devices, AV viewing systems, or the like. This offers passengers a wide range of services, such as telephone, movies, games, and connection to the Internet.
These handsets, operation terminal devices, headphone devices, and so forth are connected by cord to a connector or electronic device provided inside the seat.
For example, on an airplane, a handset may be housed in a cradle provided to the armrest of the seat. When a passenger lifts the handset from the cradle, a cord is pulled out from a cord reel device provided on the back of the cradle. Since the handset cord is thus connected to the cord reel device, the handset cannot be moved very far from the cradle.
However, winding can be a problem with conventional cord reel devices, making them less than reliable. Also, if the cord of the handset was a curled cord, for example, the cord may sometimes be stretched too far, allowing the handset to fall on the floor.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems, and to provide a cord reel device with which there will be no winding problems, and which is therefore more reliable.
To achieve the stated object, the cord reel device pertaining to the present invention comprises first and second reel bodies, a reel case, a pullout cord, an internal cord, and a convex portion. The first reel body and second reel body are linked in the rotational axis direction so that their rotational axes coincide. The reel case houses the first reel body and the second reel body in a rotatable state. The pullout cord is wound around the first reel body so that it can be pulled out, and is pulled outside of the reel case. The internal cord is wound around the second reel body in the same direction as the winding direction of the pullout cord, and has free play in a space formed inside the reel case as the pullout cord is pulled out. The convex portion is provided to the reel case and protrudes toward the space in which the internal cord is wound.
Consequently, a very reliable cord reel device can be provided with which no winding problems are encountered.
Also, with the cord reel device disclosed herein, it is preferable if the convex portion protrudes toward the rotational axis in the space in which the internal cord is wound.
Also, with the cord reel device disclosed herein, it is preferable if the convex portion is provided in the space formed in the reel case and in which the internal cord is wound, upstream from the position where a second end is fixed on the opposite side from a first end connected to the rotational axis of the internal cord, in the winding direction of the internal cord when the pulled-out pullout cord is wound.
Also, with the cord reel device disclosed herein, it is preferable if the convex portion is formed integrally with the reel case.
Also, it is preferable if the cord reel device disclosed herein further comprises side wall portions that are provided to the pullout cord winding shaft of the second reel body, and are provided so as to incline at a specific angle with respect to the winding direction of the pullout cord.
Also, with the cord reel device disclosed herein, it is preferable if the convex portion has a substantially arc-shaped cord latching wall as part of the wall face forming the protruding portion.
Also, with the cord reel device disclosed herein, it is preferable if, in the winding of the pulled-out pullout cord, the cord latching wall is disposed on an upstream face in the winding direction of the internal cord.
Also, the cord reel device disclosed herein comprises first and second reel bodies, a reel case, a pullout cord, an internal cord, and side wall portions. The first reel body and the second reel body are linked in the rotational axis direction so that their rotational axes coincide. The reel case houses the first reel body and the second reel body in a rotatable state. The pullout cord is wound around the first reel body so that it can be pulled out, and is pulled outside of the reel case. The internal cord is wound around the second reel body in the same direction as the winding direction of the pullout cord, and has free play in a space formed inside the reel case as the pullout cord is pulled out. The side wall portions are provided to the pullout cord winding shaft of the second reel body, and are provided so as to incline at a specific angle with respect to the winding direction of the pullout cord.
Consequently, a very reliable cord reel device can be provided with which no winding problems are encountered.
It is also preferable if the specific angle of the cord reel device disclosed herein is at least 3 degrees and no more than 10 degrees.
The present invention provides a very reliable cord reel device with which winding problems can be effectively minimized.
The cord reel device pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described through reference to the drawings, using a cord reel device connected to a handset as an example. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
A liquid crystal monitor or the like for providing a passenger with movies, games, music, and various other kinds entertainment is installed on the back of the seat 10. As shown in
As shown in
Cord Reel Device 20
As shown in
The cord reel 30 has a stationary shaft 32, a spiral spring 38, and a reel body 40.
The spiral spring 38 connects the stationary shaft 32 and the reel body 40, and generates a restorative force that winds up the pullout cord 22 that has been pulled out.
As shown in
As shown in
Consequently, with the cord reel device 20 in this embodiment, the first reel body 42 and the second reel body 46 are linked in parallel in the extension direction of the stationary shaft 32.
Side walls 47 that face outward radially from the winding face 46a on which the internal cord 26 is wound are provided to the second reel body 46. In this embodiment, these side walls 47 are inclined at a specific angle to the winding direction of the internal cord 26 (the vertical direction of the rotational axis 48), as shown in
The specific angle indicating the inclination angle of the side walls 47 is preferably at least 3 degrees and no more than 10 degrees. In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the side walls 47 is set to 6 degrees.
The pullout cord 22 is a cord that can be pulled out from the cord reel device 20 and connected to the handset 14. The pullout cord 22 is pulled into the space on the passenger side and touches the passenger's hands. Therefore, in this embodiment, a relatively strong, round cord with a circular cross sectional shape is used as the pullout cord 22.
The plug 23 (see
The pullout cord 22 is wound around the first reel body 42 in a state that allows it to be pulled out, and can be pulled out from the reel case 50 against the restorative force of the spiral spring 38 shown in
The internal cord 26 is a flat cord with a thin cross sectional shape, and is about half the length of the pullout cord 22. As shown in
The internal cord 26 is wound around the second reel body 46 in the same direction as the winding direction of the pullout cord 22.
The reel case 50 is a plastic case, and has a first case 52 that covers the first reel body 42 side, and the second case 56 that covers the second reel body 46 side. When the first case 52 and the second case 56 have been attached to the stationary shaft 32, the mating of the first case 52 and the second case 56 causes the reel case 50 to envelop the reel body 40 in a rotatable state.
Consequently, the reel case 50 envelops the first reel body 42 and the second reel body 46 in a rotatable state, and forms an internal winding space that allows the free play of the internal cord 26 that occurs during winding of the pullout cord 22.
A convex portion 57 that protrudes into the winding space inside the reel case 50 is formed on the second case 56.
The convex portion 57 is formed integrally with the second case 56 from plastic, as part of the second case 56 (the reel case 50). Also, the convex portion 57 is provided so as to protrude toward the rotational axis of the first and second reel bodies 42 and 46.
As shown in
The winding direction of the internal cord 26 in this case refers to the direction in which the internal cord 26 is wound (see the dotted line in
More specifically, the convex portion 57 is provided at a specific location in order to keep the pullout cord 22 toward the inside of the winding space (the rotational axis side of the second reel body 46) so that the slack portion of the internal cord 26 will not be too large when the pullout cord 22 is moved in and out.
In this embodiment, the convex portion 57 is provided at a location where the internal cord 26 tends to go slack in the operation of the cord reel device 20 (discussed below), that is, at a location upstream in the winding direction from the position where the first end of the internal cord 26 is fixed. This serves as the specific location where the convex portion 57 is provided.
The action and effect of the present invention resulting from the provision of the convex portion 57 will be discussed in detail at a later point.
A cord latching wall 59 that forms a pocket space S (see
The cord latching wall 59 is a part of the side wall constituting the above-mentioned convex portion 57, and as shown in
In particular, as shown in
Providing the cord latching wall 59 forms the pocket space S (see
The detailed action and effect produced by providing the cord latching wall 59 to the cord reel device 20 in this embodiment will be discussed at a later point.
Operation of Cord Reel Device 20
Next, the operation of the cord reel device 20 will be described through reference to
When the pullout cord 22 is pulled to the desired length by a passenger, it is pulled from the cord reel device 20 against the restorative force of the spiral spring 38.
As shown in
As shown in
When the pullout cord 22 is then pulled out further, as shown in
As shown in
In a state in which the pullout cord 22 has been pulled out, as shown in
Then, when the pullout cord 22 is to be stowed inside the cord reel device 20, the passenger lightly tugs on the pullout cord 22. This releases the stopper mechanism, and the restorative force of the spiral spring 38 winds the pullout cord 22 into the cord reel device 20 and onto the first reel body 42.
As shown in
When the pullout cord 22 begins to be wound into the cord reel device 20, the internal cord 26 begins to come loose, starting from the side where the first end is connected to the connector 58.
As shown in
Then, when the pullout cord 22 is wound up to about half its length, as shown in
When the pullout cord 22 is then wound further, it begins to be wound onto the second reel body 46, starting from the second end (proximal end) side of the internal cord 26. At this point, the winding direction is the opposite of the direction in the state S81.
As shown in
Then, when the pullout cord 22 is completely wound into the cord reel device 20, as shown in
In the above description, a case was described in which the entire pullout cord 22 was pulled out, but if the pullout cord 22 is pulled out just part of the way, the stopper mechanism will operate at the point when the pulling-out is stopped, and the pullout cord 22 will be held at its length at that point. Also, when the pullout cord 22 is lightly tugged in this state, the restorative force of the spiral spring 38 winds the pullout cord 22 into the cord reel device 20 and onto the first reel body 42.
Here, when the pull-out operation is stopped in a state in which the pullout cord 22 has been pulled out more than half its length, and then the pullout cord 22 is wound into the cord reel device 20, with a conventional cord reel device winding problems are encountered. With the configuration of the cord reel device 20 in this embodiment, however, there is no danger of winding problems in a situation such as this.
The operation when the pullout cord 22 is wound into the cord reel device 20 from a state S91 in which the pullout cord 22 had been pulled out part-way (the same as the state S74 in
First, in the state S91, as shown in
In this state, when the pullout cord 22 begins to be wound into the cord reel device 20, this turnaround point P moves in the same direction as the rotation direction of the second reel body 46.
In this embodiment, the convex portion 57 protrudes into the winding space in the second case 56. The convex portion 57 has the substantially arc-shaped cord latching wall 59, such that the radius vector R(θ) from the rotational axis 48 to the boundary of the winding space is reduced non-continuously in the deflection angle direction θ.
Consequently, as shown in
When the pullout cord 22 is then wound completely into cord reel device 20, as shown in
Furthermore, in this embodiment, as discussed above and as shown in
That is, in this embodiment, the side walls 47 of the internal cord 26 are inclined with respect to the winding direction of the internal cord 26 (the vertical direction of the rotational axis 48). Consequently, in the winding of the internal cord 26, there is more friction between the internal cord 26 and the side walls 47, which prevents the internal cord 26 from being drawn toward the inside of the winding space (the rotational axis direction of the second reel body 46). As a result, this effectively suppresses the winding problems that occur when the turnaround point P of the internal cord 26 moves through the gap between the convex portion 57 and the second reel body 46.
As discussed above, with the cord reel device 20 in this embodiment, the convex portion 57 that protrudes into the winding space is provided in the second case 56. The convex portion 57 has the substantially arc-shaped cord latching wall 59 at which the radius vector R(θ) up to the boundary of the winding space of the internal cord 26 is reduced non-continuously when the deflection angle is changed in the direction in which the pullout cord 22 is wound. Accordingly, the turnaround point P of the internal cord 26 can be effectively prevented from moving beyond the cord latching wall 59.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the side walls 47 of the second reel body 46 is inclined at a specific angle (approximately 6 degrees in this embodiment) with respect to the vertical line of the rotational axis 48. Accordingly, movement of the turnaround point P through the gap between the convex portion 57 and the second reel body 46 can be effectively suppressed. Therefore, this prevents the turnaround point P from becoming tangled up in the internal cord, so a reliable cord reel device can be provided in which winding problems can be effectively prevented.
The comparative example shown in
As shown in
As shown in
Furthermore, let us assume that the side walls 47 of the second reel body 46 in the above embodiment were perpendicular to the vertical line of the rotational axis 48.
In this case, the portion of the internal cord that had spread into the winding space and is wound to the outside is quickly drawn to the inside of the winding space, and as shown in
When the turnaround point P then moves beyond the position of the cord latching wall 59, as shown in
After this, just as discussed above, if the internal cord is tangled, the second reel body will not be able to move, and as shown in
The specific numerical values used in the above embodiment are nothing but examples, and should be appropriately set to the optimal values as dictated by the cord reel device specifications and so on.
Furthermore, a cord reel device that was connected to a handset was described as an example in this embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the cord reel device can be one in which a headphone cord, an electrical wiring cord, an optical cord, or any of various other types of cord is wound and housed.
In the above embodiment, an example was given in which the convex portion 57 provided in the second case 56 was formed so as to protrude toward the rotational axis 48 of the first and second reel bodies 42 and 46, but the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the convex portion may protrude toward the winding space in a second case, and may be disposed at a position that effectively keeps the turnaround portion of the internal cord from being wound in when the pullout cord is wound.
The present invention is useful as a reliable cord reel device with which winding problems can be effectively suppressed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2012-066599 | Mar 2012 | JP | national |
This application claims priority to International Application PCT/JP2013/001522, with an international filing date of Mar. 8, 2013, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2012-066599 filed on Mar. 23, 2012. The entire disclosures of International Application PCT/JP2013/001522 and Japanese Patent Application No. JP 2012-066599 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/JP2013/001522 | 3/8/2013 | WO | 00 |