The present invention relates to a retractable line divider, and more particularly to a magnetic retractable line divider that can be used in a safer manner.
The retractable line divider is commonly used at an entrance of supermarket, mall, and other public places for access control.
So far, a conventional retractable line divider (50) comprises at least two free-standing vertical posts (51) which are separated with a preferred distance (as shown in
However, the conventional retractable line divider is disadvantageous because the engagement between the engaging piece (531) and the engaging slot (521) cannot be disengaged quickly, and it may increase risks in emergency or disasters such as fire or earthquake. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved design for a retractable line divider to overcome the problems presented above.
The present invention provides a magnetic retractable line divider which comprises at least a reel assembly. The reel assembly has a shell, and a magnetic portion is installed thereon. An elastic line divider belt is wound on the reel assembly, and a magnetic member is connected to a lateral end of the line divider belt. The line divider belt is configured to be horizontally pulled out from the reel assembly and travel a preferred distance to attach to a magnetic object, thus achieving line divider effect. Moreover, when someone pushes against the line divider belt with or over a preferred force, the magnetic member is configured to be detached from the magnetic object and automatically retracted into the reel assembly, thus avoiding accident. Furthermore, an upper locating disk and a lower locating disk are respectively located inside the shell of the reel assembly, and a spindle configured to be wound by the line divider belt is pivotally connected between the upper locating disk and the lower locating disk. A clock spring is positioned in the lower locating disk, and two ends of the clock spring respectively bear against a bottom portion of the spindle and an inner lower surface of the lower locating disk. As a result, the clock spring compressed or extended between the spindle and the lower locating disk is configured to provide an elastic force to retract or extend the line divider belt. Also, the shell comprises at least a slot which is configured to be passed through by the line divider belt. As needed, the shell of the reel assembly has an engaging base mounted thereon.
Comparing with conventional retractable line divider, the present invention is advantageous because: (i) the line divider belt of one reel assembly is configured to attach to the magnetic portion of another reel assembly, the magnetic member of the line divider belt of another reel assembly, or the magnetic unit of the walls through magnetic force, instead of the engagement, so that the line divider belt is configured to detach from these said objects when received over a preferred force and automatically retracted into the reel assembly. Thus, it can be used more safely in daily life or in emergency.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.
All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
In order to further understand the goal, characteristics and effect of the present invention, a number of embodiments along with the drawings are illustrated as following:
Referring to
In one embodiment, the magnetic portion (12) comprises at least a connecting unit (120), and the connecting unit (120) further has a locating piece (121) which is configured to engage with the engaging base (17). In addition, the connecting unit (120) has a magnetic piece (123), and a line divider section (122) is connected between the magnetic piece (123) and a lateral edge of the locating piece (121) (as shown in
In another embodiment, the magnetic portion (12) is a plurality of metal pieces evenly formed on the shell (11) of the reel assembly (10) (as shown in
In still another embodiment, the magnetic portion (12) is a plurality of magnets evenly formed on the shell (11) of the reel assembly (10) (as shown in
In a further embodiment, the magnetic portion (12) is a piece of metal sheet attached on the shell (11) of the reel assembly (10) (as shown in
In still a further embodiment, the magnetic member (21) is a magnet.
In yet a further embodiment, the reel assembly (10) is secured on a wall (30) located adjacent to an entrance or access, and a magnetic unit (31) is embedded in another wall (30) located at an opposite side of the first wall (30) (as shown in
In a particular embodiment, the two reel assemblies (10) are respectively secured on the two walls (30) located at both lateral sides of an entrance, and the line divider belt (20) received in one of the two reel assemblies (10) is configured to be pulled out and attached to the magnetic portion (12) of another reel assembly (10), thus achieving the line divider effect (as shown in
In still a particular embodiment, the two reel assemblies (10) are respectively secured on the walls (30) located at both lateral sides of an entrance, and the two line divider belts (20) are respectively pulled out from of the two reel assemblies (10) and attached with each other through the two magnetic members (21), thus increasing the length of line divider.
In a preferred embodiment, at least two reel assemblies (10) are respectively secured on the wall (30) and at least a free-standing vertical post (40), and an entrance is formed between the wall (30) and the vertical post (40) (as shown in
In still a preferred embodiment, at least two reel assemblies (10) are respectively secured on two separated vertical posts (40), and an entrance is formed between the two vertical posts (40) (as shown in
In an advantageous embodiment, at least two reel assemblies (10) are respectively secured on two separated vertical posts (40), and the two line divider belts (20) are respectively pulled out from the two reel assemblies (10) and attached with each other through the two magnetic members (21) such that a wider entrance is formed between the two vertical posts (40) (as shown in
In still an advantageous embodiment, the vertical post (40) is secured on the floor.
Comparing with conventional retractable line divider, the present invention is advantageous because: (i) the line divider belt (20) of one reel assembly (10) is configured to attach to the magnetic portion (12) of another reel assembly (10), the magnetic member (21) of the line divider belt (20) of another reel assembly (10) or the magnetic unit (31) of the walls (30) through magnetic force, instead of the engagement, so that the line divider belt (20) is configured to detach from these said objects when received over a preferred force and retracted into the reel assembly (10) (as shown in
Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents.