Patent Application
20050072645
The present invention relates to a storage reel and more particularly to a manually operated storage reel with for storing, transporting, and dispensing electrical cord.
Cord storage reels for storing and transporting electrical extension cords are known. Such reels consist basically of a spool, upon which a cord can be wound. In some cases, the spool is enclosed in a housing. Typically, a crank is connected to the spool so that the spool can be manually rotated to wind the cord thereabout. Such reels are particularly useful in industrial or commercial settings such as automobile repair shops, machine shops, carpentry shops and construction sites. The reels permit workers to readily access electrical power as needed for the operation of portable electric tools, test devices, and trouble lights at various locations remote from an existing power outlet. Such reels are also convenient to use around the house and yard, particularly for use with electrically powered outdoor appliances like hedge trimmers, electric lawn mowers, edgers, and blowers that could potentially be used hundreds of feet from an electrical outlet.
It would be desirable to produce a manually operated cord storage reel having electrical outlets wherein a frame facilitates supporting the storage reel in a vertical or horizontal position.
Consistent and consonant with the present invention, a manually operated cord storage reel with electrical outlets wherein a frame facilitates supporting the storage reel in a vertical or horizontal position, has surprisingly been discovered.
The cord storage reel comprises a unitary frame including a generally U-shaped base portion, a handle portion, and a spool mounting axle, the base portion supporting the handle portion in spaced relation from the base portion and separately supporting the spool mounting axle in spaced relation to the base portion and the handle portion; and a spool having a rotational axis, the spool adapted to be rotatingly mounted on the spool mounting axle of the frame, wherein the spool mounting axle is sufficiently spaced from the handle portion and the base portion to rotatingly receive the spool therebetween, and wherein the frame is adapted to selectively support the reel where the axis of rotation of the reel is in a first position and where the axis of rotation is in a second position.
The above, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, and particularly
The spool 14 has an axis of rotation R and includes a central hub 26, a front flange 28, and a rear flange 30. The hub 26 has a centrally disposed sleeve 32 adapted to rotatingly receive the spool mounting axle 20 of the frame 12. An annular array of ribs 34 is formed on an outer surface of the hub 26, at least some of which ribs include a threaded portion to facilitate connection of the front flange 28 and the rear flange 30 to the hub 26 to form the spool 14. An aperture 36 is formed in the hub 26 adjacent the rear flange 30 and is adapted to receive a male electrical plug (not shown) which can be connected to a female electrical plug end of an extension cord (not shown).
The rear flange 30 of the spool 14 includes a central aperture 38 adapted to be received on the spool mounting axle 20 of the frame 12 and abut the flange 21. The aperture 38 of the rear flange 30 is aligned with the sleeve 32 of the hub 26. A projecting edge 40 surrounds the aperture 38 of the rear flange 30 and extends in a direction towards the hub 26 to be received by the sleeve 32. A lip 42 surrounding a raised surface 44 is concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from the aperture 38 of the rear flange 30. The lip 42 is adapted to be received by the hub 26. A cap 46 having a central aperture 48 is adapted to be slidably received on the frame 12 and abut the flange 21 on a side opposite the rear flange 30 of the spool 14.
The front flange 28 of the spool 14 includes a plurality of central apertures 50 adapted to receive electrical outlets 52 therein. A switch and circuit breaker 54 is disposed in an aperture 56 formed adjacent the apertures 50 for the outlets 52. The outlets 52 are typically held in place using threaded fasteners 58. A lip 59 surrounding a raised surface 61 is formed in the front flange 28. The lip 59 is adapted to be received by the hub 26.
A crank handle or winding knob 60 is rotatingly disposed on the front flange 28 adjacent a peripheral edge thereof. In the embodiment shown, the knob 60 is installed over an axle 62 and connected to the front flange 28 by a nut 64 and a bolt 66. It is understood that other suitable fasteners could be used. Threaded fasteners 68 are used in the embodiment shown to connect the front flange 28 to the hub 26, the rear flange 30 to the hub 26, the cap 46 to the rear flange 30, and the top handle section 22 to the bottom handle section 24. It is understood that other fasteners could be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
To assemble the cord storage reel 10, the aperture 48 of the cap 46 is received on the handle portion 18 of the frame 12. The cap 46 is moved along the frame 12 until connected to the cap 46 using the appropriate fasteners 68. Sufficient clearance is provided between the cap 46 and the rear flange 30 to permit the cap 46 and the rear flange 30 assembly to rotate on the spool mounting axle 20 of the frame 12.
The hub 26 is connected to the rear flange 30 using the appropriate fasteners 68. The lip 42 militates against lateral movement of the hub 26 when assembled with the rear flange 30. The male electrical plug disposed in the aperture 36 formed in the hub 26 is electrically connected to the outlets 52. An electrical connection is then made between the outlets 52 and the switch and circuit breaker 54. The outlets 52 are installed in the apertures 50 and the switch is installed in the aperture 56.
The front flange 28 is connected to the hub 26 using the appropriate fasteners 68. The lip 59 militates against relative movement between the hub 26 and the front flange 28 when assembled. The knob 60 is then fastened to the front flange 28 using the axle 62, the nut 64, and the bolt 66.
The top handle section 22 and the bottom handle section 24 are aligned with and connected to surround the handle portion 18 of the frame 12. Appropriate fasteners 68 are used to join the top handle section 22 and the bottom handle section 24 with the handle portion 18. The foot pads 25 are snapped on the frame 12 to be securely held thereon.
The use of the cord storage reel 10 will now be described. Typically, the female electrical plug end of the extension cord is connected with the male electrical plug installed in the aperture 36 of the hub 26. When being stored, the extension cord is coiled onto the hub 26 of the spool 14. This is accomplished by a user gripping the knob 60 and rotating the spool 14 in the desired direction to coil the extension cord.
When it is desired to use an electrical tool or an appliance, a male electrical plug end of the extension cord is plugged into a wall outlet (not shown). The user then uses the handle portion 18 to carry the cord storage reel 10 to a desired location. While transporting the cord storage reel 10, the extension cord is caused to be spooled out or uncoiled from the spool 14. At the desired location, the user is able to plug in the tool or appliance. Electrical power can then be supplied to the tool or appliance by moving the switch and circuit breaker 54 to the on position. In the event there is a short, the switch and circuit breaker 54 will be caused to interrupt the power supply, until the short can be corrected.
During use, the user can position the cord storage reel 10 with the axis of rotation R in a substantially horizontal position as shown in
Permitting the user to use the cord storage reel 10 with the axis of rotation R in the horizontal position and the vertical position provides the user with the flexibility of using the cord storage reel 10 in a variety of situations. Additionally, in the embodiment shown, the front flange 28 and the rear flange 30 are produced from metal, whereas the remaining parts of the cord storage reel 10 are produced from plastic. The metal flanges 28, 30 provide structural strength and rigidity, while the plastic portions minimize the overall weight of the cord storage reel 10. It is understood that other materials having similar properties to those mentioned above can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.
