Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
- 207~
IC_ ASSEMBLY
B~C_GROUN~ ~ TH~ INy~NTJ.ON
~ o~ them~nY~n~i~n
4 This inven-tion ~elates to ~ co~d reel asqembly a~d more
~ p~rticul~rly to a retract~ble reel a~e~bly for an electric
6 cord.
7 Desc~iptio~ o~ the Prior ~rt
8 Ret~cta~le oord reel assemblies ha~ been used on
9 v~rious devioes, such a~ vacuum olean~rs, or ~etr~cting
01ectric cor~s. ~he cor~ ro~1 as~embly usuall~ is mounted
11 inter.nally in -the devio~, is housed br the device, ~nd i~
12 connected to ~uppl~ electrical pow~r to the d~vioe. Such a
l3 reel ~s~embly ~enerallY ~omprises a Sta-tiOnar~ br~clcet ~hich
14 iR moun~ed in the ~evice and whioh h~s ~n ~xle upon which is
mounted a ro-tata~le spool. The as~mbly also includes spring
16 motor me~ns for rewinding an electria oord on the reel.
17 ~ont~ct means are provided on the reel to oonnect a rota-ting
18 end of ~he co~d with ao~.tespon~ing statlonary wires on the
19 ~ssel~bly,
Examples o~ re~ractable ao~d reels on VP~ioUS devi4es,
21 su~h as vacuu~ cle~n~rs, .~re sh~wn i~ the followin~ U.S.
~ p~tent~: Nn. 3~3~8,2~7, issued to Doers~m ~t al.; No.
23 3,346,7~, issued to 911nka~d et al.; ~o. 3,~26,~7g is~ued to
24 Penn et al~
Z5 The rotating end of the cord must be oo~nected to the
26 spool so that aM ~lectrioal aonnect~on is mad~ t~rou~h ~he
27 oont~t means ~.o supply poWer to the devioe. Thi~ is us~lly
28 accompli.~h~d b~ providl~g termin~l.s on or near the hub of` the
Z~ ~pool and connectin~ tlle end o~ t~e cord to the terminals.
~ 207~9
1 Once the elld o~ the cord is connected to thc -tcrminals, the
2 oord be~am~s p~rt of the cvrd r~ embl~, and atkachme~t
3 o~ the cord ~IS t alway~ be incl~ded a~ part of the a~sembl~
4 of -the cord reel. There is usllally no ea~y ~ay to partiall~
~ cnm~J.ete tlle ~em~]~ wi~hout the cord ~ue to the ~t.tach~ent
6 ~f th~ cord to the cord reel ~s~bly.
7 Further~ore, if the cord la~er becomes worn or bre~ks or
is otherw~se d~ma~ed, ~he cord reel must be ~isa3~embled te
9 rernove che cord from the tern~inal~ in the ~pool hub, so that
th~ cord can be replace~.
11 SU~MA Y O~ THE INv~N~ION
12 The p~esent invention provides ~n improved retractable
13 electl-ic co~d reel as~cmbl~ whlch overcome~ the di~adv~nta~es
14 ~d ~horto~min~s of ~he prior a~t. The oord reel ~f the
pre~ent i-~vention is more easily fabrioAted and a~sembled than
16 cord reels of the prior a~t and can ~e mqnuf'aotured with a
17 minimum o~ p~rt~. In accordan~e wi~h the present invention,
18 the end o~ the corcl is not oonneoted di~ectl~ to ~he ter~inal~
~9 on the hub of the spool. Inste~d, t~e co~d is connecte~ to
a oord retainer assembl~. The co~d retainer as~e~bl~ fits
21 into ~ oorrespondin~l~ shaped ke~ed opening on ~.he huh of ~he
~2 spool a~d is reta.ined therein. rhe cord re~iner as~embly
23 in~lude~ termin~ls and cont~ot~ ~or provi~in~ ~ connection at
24 the end of the cord and for electricall~ connecting the cord
~5 on the r~t~-ting reel to supply electrical power to the appli-
26 anc~ or other devic~.
27 The co}d retainer ~sembly, with vr without attached
2g cord, may be separately inventoried si~e the cord ~oes not
2g ~d to be conn~cted to the cord reel when the cord reel is
assembled or when the cord reel is ~ounted on the appli~n~e
31 or o-the-r device~ 'rhe ~ord can be su~sequently assem~led with
32 the cord reel a~sembl~ at ~ later timc.
2~13~'~
--3--
1 The cord retainer a~embly includ~s B ~alr of terminRls
2 and oon~acts to whi~h the e~d of the ~rd is att~clled. When
3 tlle cord ret~iner ~.s~embl~ is re~ained in th~ ke~ed opening
in ~he ~pool hub, a p~ir of ~t~tionary slip r.in~s on the oord
reel assembl~ ~djaeent to the rotatin~ spool enga~e ~he
6 cont.ac-ts to pro~ide a oontinuou~ ele~tric~1 connection ~3 the
7 spool rot~te~.
8 The co.~d reel assembly of the present invent~on also
g includes a friction brake to ~electively hold the spool from
10 rotA~ing when the cord is unwound and th~ appliance or other
ll de~ice is in u~e. The friotlon brake is capab~e of selective
12 disen~ement ~rom the ~pool to all~ the spool to rotate
~3 under influ~noe of ~be spring motor mean~ to wind the oord
14 ol~tO the reel.
lb The oord reel assembly of the present invention further
:16 incl~ides a centrifugal brake that incl~de~ ~ brake member on
17 the spool that pivots outwardly by oentrifugal ~orce to engage
18 a portion o~ the stationary braclce~ when the spool rota~es.
1g Th~ centrifuga~ hralce a~ts a~ a speed regula-tor t~hen the cord
~0 is .~etr~ted to prevent e~oessive rotational ~peed by thè
21 spool t~hich oould result in undesirable ~hipping o~ the cord
22 du~ing retra.o.tion.
23 These ~nd other adv~ntage~ are ~chieved b~ the present
24 invention o~ a retra~table oord reel ~sembly for an electric
cord. The oord reel assembly compri~es a mounting braoket
26 having an axle extending the~from and a ~pool rotata~ly
27 ~o~nte~ on th~ ~le. The ~pool h~s a hub, and th~ hub has
~ keyed openin~ e~tending axially into ~he hub. The cord reel
29 a~sembly al~o oo~p~ises a cord r~tainer as~embly for reoeiving
30 one end of the electric cord which i~ adapted to be wound on
31 the spool ror storage. The c~r~ retainer assembly ~lide~ into
32 ~he keyed op~ning to ~ lo~kingly retained therein. The cord
33 reel asse~ly also ~omprises ~pring motor me~ns fo~ rewinding
34 ~he cord on the spool.
The cord reel assembly o~ the pre~ent inventi~n also
36 pref~ra~ly comprise~ ln addition a slip rin~ assembly ad~jacent
07~3~
I;o ~he spool. Tl~e slip rin~¢ a~Embl~ comp.ri~e a p~ir Or
qIip ~in~ whi~h enga.ge a pai~ o~ oontaot~i on the cord retain-
3 er ~se~mbl~r,
~ The ~ord r~el ass2mbly o~ the presenk invention f~rther
5 pre~erabl~ comp~ise~ mea~ ~or selectively preventin~ rotation
6 of ~h~ spool i~luding a f~iotion brake moun~e~ on the bracket
7 ~nd Gapable o~ en~a~in~ ~ por~i~n o~ the spool and capable
o~ disen~aging ~rom the spool to ~llow the pool ~o rotate
~ unde~ influence of the sprin~ motor mean~ to wind ~he cord on
the reel.
ll The oord reel as~embly of the present in~en~ion still
-12 f-lrther p~efe~ably compri~es a centrifug~l b~alce assembl~
13 including a brake member mounted on the reel And capahle of
14 out~rd n~ovement upon rotation of the spool to engage a
por~ion ~ the ~ountin~ b~cket.
~6 Bl~IEF ~)ESCRIPTION OF THE D2AWINGS
17 ~IG. 1 i~ an exploded perspeo~ive viel~ ~howing ~h~
18 re-tr~c-t~ble cor~ r~el assembly o~ the present invention.
l9 FIO. 2 is a perspeotive view ~imilar to ~IG. 1 sho~ing
the cord reel a~sembl~ in its asse~led ~orm.
21 FIa. 3 is a ~ide sectional view ~aken along line 3--3 of
22, FIG. 2 with porti~n~ partially removed ~howing the placement
7.3 of the oord retainer asQemblY.
24 FI~. 4 is a ~ide seo~ional view t~k~n alon~ line 4- 4 of
F'I~. 2 wi1:~ the cord retainer a~sembl~ removed from the cord
~6 reel spool.
27 FI[:l. 5 iq a side se~tional vie~ similar to ~G. 4 ~ h
28 the cord re~iner assembly inserted into the ~po~l hub.
29 FIG. 6 is a de~ailed sicle sectio~al ~iew takan along line
6--6 of FI~ showing the brake assen-bl~.
- 2~ 3~9
1 D TAILE~ D~SCRI~T.ION OF THE P~EF~RR~ ~MBODIMENT
~ ~fe~ring mo~ p~rti~ularly-to ~he d~awing~ ~n~ ini-ti~llY
3 to FIG~ l, t,here i~ 3hown a cord reel ~sqe~b1y l0 i~ accor-
4 da~oe with the pre~e~t i~vention. The cord re~l ~s~embl~ l0
comprises a cor~ reel or ~p~ol ;Ll ~pon whiah the oord 12 is
6 wo~lnd ~nd ~t~red. The sp~l ll is mold~d ~ a suitable
7 plastic ~akerial which provides good e~ectrical in~Latlon and
8 goodlubricityh~ingsuitablebearing proper~ies. Thespool ll
9 compris~s a pair o-f spaced flanges 13 and 14 which ~andwich
~ centrAl hub 15. ~ach o~ the flan~es 13 and l~ is generally
ll di~k-shaped and provide3 ~ trough therebetween ~or xtorage o~
12 the ~ord 12. ~h~ n~e 13 has a pl~rality of radially
13 e~-tendin~ openin~s 16. The openings 15, which permi~ obser~a-
14 tio~ of the aord 12 b~lng ~tored on the r~el, provide for
cooling ~f the oord and reduc~ ~he amount o~ plastic material
1~ needed for the 9poOl 11. The hub 15 ha~ a tubular inner a~ial
17 por~io~ with an axial openi~ 17.
18 Thespool ll i~ rotatablY mounte~ on a cord ~eel braoket 22
l9 which includes ~n axle 23 extendin~ throu~h the opening 17 in
20 l~he hub 15 of the ~pool, ~o that the ~pool rot~tes o~ the
21 axle. The bracket 22 inoludes a generall~ circ~lar base 24
22 and a platform 25 which ~xten~s rndlally outw~rdly from the
23 base. ~he circular poItion ~4 o~ the l~racl~e~ 22 forms a base
~4 ~or rotation of the ~pbol ll and i~olude~ a aircul~r lip or
ri~ 2~ within which th~ flan~e 14 o~ the sp~ol ll fits. Th~
2B br~cket 22 also inoludeq ~e~n~ 26 for mounting ~he c~rd reel
27 assembly to the ~cuum clea~er or othe~ appliance for which
28 the cord reel assembly is used and for ret~ining the cord ~2
29 during ~he manufacturing process to pre~ent the cord ~rom
unwinding fro~ the reel.
31 Th~ axl~ 23 inclucles ~ ribb~d portion ~ ~dJacent t~o the
32 ba~e 24 cf the braçket 22 ~nd an outwa~dly exte~ding smaller
33 diam~ter pQrtion 30 upon whi~h the s~ool ll is ~ounted. The
34 sp~ol ll ls re~ain~d on the axle 23 by means vf a slip ~in~
3~ as embly 31 ~hich i~ mounted on the end o~ the axle and which
'' ''' 2O~13~J~
1 fits 3~ugly ~ainst the side of the ~pool. The Rlip ring
2 as~embly 31 is hel.d bn -the end ~f the a.~le Z3 by a ~uitable
3 fastener, such as a screw 3~ wh~ch i~ inserted into a corre-
4 sponding h~le o~ the end o~ the axl~.
Between the bracket 22 ~nd ~h~ ~pool 11 ls a ~prin~ motor
6 a~sembly 35 ~or rotating the spool 11 and retra~tin~ the cord
7 12. The ~pring motor a~sembl~ 35 com~rises a coiL sprin~ 36
8 mounted within a dish-si~ped keeper hou~ing 37 having a
9 plur~lity of circ~mferential tab~ 38. The inn~r end o~ the
coil spring 36 include~ ~ tab~ed end 39 ~hich en~ages the
11 ribbe~ portion 2~ of ~he axle 23. The outer end of the coil
12 spring 3~ ha~ a hoo~ed end 40 ~h.ioh en~ages one of the circum-
~ rential ~abs 38 on the kee~er hou~ing 37
14 The sprin~ motor ~ssembl~ 35 f~tq within a corre.~pondin~
rece~ in one ~i~e of the ~po~l 11, ~nd with the ciro~mferen
16 tial tab~ 38 on the sprin~ l~eeper housing 37 fi~ting within
17 corre~ponding slots a~nst the circumfe~ential wall forln~ng
1~ the reoess in the side of the spool. Two of the keeper tabs 38
19 have opening~ 43 wh~ch engage corre~po~ding ~u~ton~ on the
~0 interior wal.l of the reoess in the spool to hold the sprln~
21 motor assembl~ in plaoe~ so ~ha~ the keeper hou.cin~ 37 is
edl~ moul~ted to rotate with the spool ~1. Since one end 39
23 of the coil spri~g 36 i~ retained by l:he nonrotating br~cket
24 a~le 23 and the other end 40 o~ t~e coil 9prin~ rota-tes with
the ~pool 11, thc spring i~ wound a9 the cord 12 is pulled
26 from the ~e~l~ and the ~esult.in~ ~pring tension iB used to
27 retract the oord onto the reel when d~ e~.
~8 The spe~ of rotation o~ the ~po~l 11 i~ co~xolled by
2g a ~entri~ al brake comprising t~o bral~e ~mbers 4~ mounted
cir~um~erentially on the spool. Each o~ the brake ~mbers 46
31 15 ourve~ ~nd is pivotall~ mounted at o~e end to the ~ide of
~2 the spvol flan~e 1~ that f~ce~ the brack~t 22. The other en~
33 o~ the e~ch of the brak~ ~nembers 45 i~s f~ee to piv~t outwardl~
34 by centrifugal ~orce a~ th~ spool 11 rotates. E~ch br~ke
3S membe~ 45 ~as ~ p~otrusio~ 47 adjacent t~ the m~unted end
36 which extends outwardlr ;from the fl~nge 14 of the spool 11 and
21~ ~13 ~ ~
1 engage5 -the rim 2'7 on the bra~ket 22. As -the ~pool tl begins
~ to rota~e rapidl~ to retrac~ the oorcl 12, t~e br~ke mem~e~s 45
3 pi~ot outward1y b~ centri-~ga1 ~orce to.conta~ the rim 27 o~
4 ~he b~cket Z2 ~nd s1Ow down the rotation of the ~pool. In
this manner, ~he c,entrifug~1 br~ke acts ~s a spe~d reg~lat~
~ when the cord 12 is retrac~ed ko preven~ &~cessive rotationa1
7 speed by th~ spoo1 which cD~ld re~ul~ in undesirab1e whippi~
8 of the cord during retractio~.
9 To ~eep the qpring motDr ~s~emb1y 35 f rom rotatih~ t.he
~poo~ ll when the cord 1~ is unwound, the cord ~eel a~sembl~
11 i5 provided ~ith a actu~table friction brake ~6. AS shown in
l~ FIC. ~, the friotion br~k~ 4~ i3 ~unted on a pin 48 OA the
1~ bracl~et p1atform ~5. The fri~tion ~rake 4~ has an inar~a~ed
14 di~meter portion 52 at one end which i~ normally pu~led into
1~ its en~a~ement position by means of a spril~g 49 so that the
1~ por~ion 5~ is ih contact wit~ the outer edge of the f1atlge 14
17 oY the spoo1 11. The ~riction br~ke 4G iY release~ from its
18 en~a~eme~ position by pushing an outwardly exten~in~ re1ease
19 lever 51 on th~ fri~tio.~ br~ke to piYot the frio~lon br~ke i~
opp~si.tion to -the 5p~in~ 49~ S0 th~t the brake portion ~
21 moves a~ay f~om the spool 11l allowing thOE ~pool to be rotated
~.2 by the sp~1ng motor assemb1y ~. The movement o~ the rele~se
23 lever ~1 towa~d khe ~poo1 11 ma~ be 1imited b~ ~ post 50 on
24 ~he ~r~cket pla~fo~ 25 which enga~e~ the rele~se l~ver ~1 and
s~ops further pivot.in~ of the frict~ on br~ce 46.
2~ The oo.rd ~eel a~sembly 10 ma~ he used in conjunotion with
27 an e1ectrica1 app~ia~ce, such as a vac~um o1ea~er, o~ ~her
28 de-~ice and m~y supply e1ec~rioi~Y from a souroe, ~uch as a
29 w~ll outlet, to the moto~ of t~eapp1iance. Thee1ectriccord 12
30 has a oon~entional male plu~ 5~ at its f~ee end and is wo~nd
31 arou~d the spool 11. The ~pool 11 i~ of suf~icient size to
3~ hold t;he de~3ired len~.h oï oord. The ~ord 12 i~ wound aro~nd
33 the axi~l surface provided on th~ hub, and wound oorc~ i~
3~ cvnfined between the f1ange~ 13 ~nd 14.
Un1ike m~n~prior ar~ cord reel asse~b1ies whioh ~quir~d
36 ~.he end of the cord to be co~nected ~o te~minals o~ the hub
,0~13~
1 o~ the spaol, the cord reel ~ssembly 10 of -the present inven-
2 tiorl in~lud~s ~ ~ord ret~iner ~sembly ~6 whioh i~ in~erted
3 ~n~o ~n enl~rged keyed opening 57 in the hub 15 o~ the spool
4 11.
In ~ccord~nce with th~ pre~ht invention, the entire cord
fi reel ~ssembly lO can be ~s~embled and htt~ched ~o the ~ppli-
7 ~nce or o-ther de~.ice without the cord. 'rhe cord can be
8 ~epa~ately assembled and inventoried with or withDut the cord
~ ret,~iner a~e~nbly 5~ attaohed to the end of the cor~. ~heh.
~hen it is desi~ed to ihst~ll the cord on the assembly, the
11 cord retainer assembly 56 with the at~ched co~d i~ insertsd
12 in~o the correspondin~ keyed op-~ning 57 in the h-~b o~ the
13 spool 11, and the cord is ~ound on the ~pool.
14 9s ~how~ in ~I~J~ . 1; 3 ~ 4 ~nd 5, the c~rd retainer
~ssembly '~, which is preferablY molded from a sui~ble
16 in~ulating plasti~ material, i~ generall~ U-shap~d with a
17 curved front ~urf~ce 60 and a pair of ~rong portions 61 and ~2
1~ with an enl.~r~ed reoess ~3 formed bet~een the prQng portions
1~ for clearance o~ the ~xle 23. When thc cord retainer ~sæembly 56
~0 is full~ insex~ted into the keyed openin~ 57 in the hub 15, the
21 curve~ surface ~0 generall~ aonform~ to the outer .~-urface the
22 annular hub and forms p ~t ~f the hubt ~o th~t the ~uter
23 sur~ace of the circular hub is ~ot affected by the cord
2~ ~et~iner and ~he p~esen~e of the ~ord ~etainer ~sse~bl~is not
re~dily noticed.
2G Eaoh o~ the pron~ portiQns 61 a~d 62 is dif~eren~l~
27 conf`igured so th~ the cord ~eta.iner ~sse~bly is asymme~rical.
28 ~hl~ asymmetr~ p~events t~e cord retainer a~se~ 5~ from
~9 bein~ inserted into the ke~d openin~ 57 ~pside down. Each
~0 prong portion ~1 and 62 ha~ ~ k~y ~ib 66 or ~7 on the exterlor
31 side of t.he ~etainer, and ~he ke~ rib~ ~6 and 67 ~it within
32 co~re~pon~in~ ke~ slot~ in eaoh qide of the op~ni~ 57. Each
33 prong portion fil and 62 also ~as a lock t~b 70 or 71 ~oc~ted
34 on ~he exte~ior side of the rekainer 56 nea~ the end of e~ch
~5 pron~ portion ~l and ~. Each of the locl~ tQbs 70 and 71
36 en~a~es a ~orresponding not~lles 72 and 73 in the walls o~ the
3 ~ s~
1 ol-elling 57 in the Ill~b. The ~.otche~ 7~ and 73 e~nd through
2 the wall of the hub 15 80 that the loclc tab~ 70 and 71 are
3 vi~ible and aoce.~sîble from ~he exterior o~ the spool 11 when
4 the cord i~ no-t w~nd on the reel. T~ allo~ eaoh of the lock
tabs 70 ancl ~1 to cam inw~rdly ~$ the cord ~tainer as3emb~.~ 56
6 is i~serted i~to the ke~ed openin~ 57, ea~h of the prong
7 por-tio~ 6~ and 62 includes an elon~ated ~lot 74 or 75 ~o that
the e,Yterior portio~ o~ each pron~ portion that eontai~s the
~ look ta~ can be r~ilientl~ pushed inward1y. The lock tab~ 70
lO and 71 are thu-~ resilienkly cammed into locking enga~ement
11 with the notches 72 Qnd 7~ wheh the oord retainer ~s~embly ~6
12 is inserted into the keyed ope~ing 57, and the cord retai~er
13 as~embl~ is locked in placc and ca~not be ea~ily rem~ved.
14 When it is desired to remove the cord retaine~ A~sembl~
56, the tT~o prong portions 61 and 62 can ~ ~quee~e~ togeth~r
16 to disengage the lock tabs 70 a~d 71 from ~he notches 72 and
17 73. ~his m~y ~e accohlpli.qhed by unwinding the oord 12 from
18 the spool 11 to gain access to th~ notches 72 and 73 and
19 pushin~ the l~al~ tabs 70 and 71 inwa~dly towar~ the rece~s ~3.
The cord retainer as~embly 56 has a pair of contact
21 te~minals 80 and R1 (~IG. 3J which ~re ~olded into the plastic
22 ofthe cor~ retaiherassembly. Each of the contaotte~minals 80
23 and 81 has a portion forming a re~ilien~ oontact 8~ or 83
24 whi~h e~t~rld~ from ~he ~ide o~ the ~tai~er assembl~ 56. Each
ZS of ~he contact terminals 80 and 81 also ha~ A portion ~ormin~
26 ~ -termin~l ~lang~ 8~ or 85 ~FI~S. 4 ~nd F) which ext~nd~ into
27 a chamb~r 86 in the r~tainer assembly 56. When the cord
2R re~aine.r ~ssem~1~t ~6 i.s i~ place within the keyed opening 57
2g in ~h~ hub 15, ~n acc~s~ openi~g 87 is ~or~ed between ~he ~o~d
~0 ret~iner assembly and the h~b ~hrough which the end of the
31 cord 12 extends into the chamber ~6. The cord 12 is posi-
32 tioned wi~hin the slot 14 and 10Oped over a portion of one of
33 th~ pron~ portion~ 61 to seo~rel~ hold the end o~ the cord in
3~ the cord ret~iner a~sem~ly 5~. 'rhe end of the cord 12 has ~
3~ pair vf t~inal con~ec~Qrs $B and g9, a~d the cord is con-
36 nected to -the re~iner assembl~ 5~ with tlle cord terminal
~ O ~ 9
-10-
1 connec-to~s ~8 an~ 8~ at-t~oh~d to the terminal flanges 84 and 85
~ o~ the c~taot terminals 80 and 81. When the cord retainer
3 as~embl.y Sfi is in~ert~d into th~ ~e~ed open-in~ 57 in th~ ~p~ol
4 hub 15, the oontac-t~ ~2 and 83 (~G. 3~ whioh ~re expo~ed on
the exterior of the cord retainer assemblY 5B ~orm an eleotri-
6 cal ~on~act wjth portions of ~he slip ring a~sembly 31 which
7 i~ mou~ted on ~he ~ide o~ the ~pool 11 opposite the braoke~
8 ~2.
9 As showh in FIG. 1, the slip ring as~embly 31 comprise~
an enlarged disc-sh~ped b~se 92, prefe~ablY m~lded from a
11 suit~ble insulating plastio material, ~ith ~ pair of ooncen-
12 tric conductiYe s~.ip rin~s g3 and g4 molded into the ~afie ~nd
13 ~tending from the surf~ce of thç ba~e ~aoing the spool ll.
1~ The ~lip rin~ assembl,Y ~ e~ly mounted on the end o~ the
~5 b~acket a~le 23 such that t~e slip rin~ a~sembly does not
16 rotat~ wi~h the spool 11, an~ the slip ring a~s~mbly serve~
17 to hold the ~pool 11 on the axle whil~ permitting the spool
18 to ~reel~ rot~te. Ea~h of the ~lip ~i~gs 93 and ~4 maint~ins
19 oon~tant contaot wi~h o~e of the cont~cts 82 o~ 83 on the cord
retainer a~m~].y 56 as t.h~ spool 11 rot~te~.
21 Each o~ the slip ~in~ 93 and 94 ha~ ~ termlnal flange g6
2~ or 97 integrall~ forme~ w.ith the slip ring, ~.nd t~le flanges 96
23 and 97 extend through the ~lip ring 4a~e 92 tow~rd the exteri-
24 or of the oord r~el assembly. Suita~le ele~trical c~nnector.s
~na~ be att~ched t~ th~ termin~l flanges 96 and 97 to ~upply
26 pol~er to the applianoe or othe~ de~i~e. The slip ~ing b~e 92
27 inclu~es outwr~rdly e~tendingl~all~ 98 molde~ into the base and
2~ fiurrounding e~ch o~ the ter~inal flange~ ~6 and gl ~o protect
29 the ~la~s from uhint~ntional electrical contao~.
A~mbl~
~1 The ~ssembl~ D~ the oord reel a~e~bly of the pre~ent
32 in~en~ion i5 fa~ilitat~d by t~e oord ret.ainer ~s~mbl~ 5fi.
33 ~eferrirlg ~o ~IG. 1~ the ~prin~ motor assembly 35 ~ay be
- 20~:~3~
-11~
1 preasQembled by coiling the ~prin~ 36 and inserting the sprin~
2 into the ~prin~ keepe~ housin~ 37 with the hooke~ end 4~ of
3 the ~p.rln~ engagi~g -the openin~ on the keeper tab 3~ to hold
the spring in place. The ~pri~g motor ~ssembly 35 is then
inserted intn the corr~sponding ~ecess on the side of the
6 spool 11 un-til ~e tab~ 3~ engage the sides o~ the re~ess ~o
7 hold the keeper housin~ ln plac~. The brake members 45 are
8 asse~led ~nto bottom of the spool 11, and the spool 11 is
9 pl~ce~ o~-to the br~oket a~l~ 23, so th~t the brake members are
c~ptured between th~ spo~l flange 14 and the bra~ket hase 24.
11 The t~bbed e~d 39 of the coil sprin~ 36 en~age~ ~he rib~ed
12 portion 29 of ~he axle as ~he .qpool 11 is inserted on the
13 ~xle. ~h~ slip rin~ asse~bly 31 i~ preas~embled with the two
1~ slip ring~ 93 anfl 94 molded into th~ slip rin~ ba~e 92 ~nd
the fl~nges 96 and 97 exkcndin~ throu~h ~he ba~e. To ret~in
16 ~h~ spool 11 on the axle 23~ the slip ring assembl~ 31 is
lq placed onto ~he end of the axl~ 2~ and secured with the screw 32
1~ to hold th~ spool 11 in pla~e. ~i~all~, the ~riction bralse 46
l9 i5 mounted on the pin 4n on the braolcet plutform 25~ and ~he
sprin~ ~9 is a~tached to th~ brake. The cord reel assembly 10
21 ls then readY to be mounted to the applianc~ or other device
22 Wit]l which it is to be used, by mo~ntin~ the bracket 2~.
23 ~n acco~dance with the prcqent invention, the cord 12
2~ neednot be a~embled~hen the re~t o~ the co~d reel assembly 10
is ,~ssembl~d. The cord 1~ is sepa~ately conneoted to the
~6 cord ~etai~r a~embly S~ by connecting the end~ of the cord
27 t~ the ter~inals ~0 and 81. Thc cord 12 and the c~rd re~aine~
z8 ~s~e~bly 5Ç ~y then be ~para~ely in~ent~ried ~d 4tored.
29 When it i9 ne~essary ~ finally connect the c~rd ~o the
appli~nc~ o~ other device, ~he cord re~1ner ~sse~ly 56 is
31 in~erte~ into the keyed openin~ 57 in the hub 15 of the spool 11
32 with the key rib~ ~6 and 67 on the retaine~ assembly en~gin~
33 the cor~es~ondin~ slot~ on the sides of the op~ning to ~ssure
34 proper insertion of the ~etainer and ali~nme~t of ~he p~rts.
The leck t~b 70 ~nd 71 on the retainer assembly 5~ en~a~es the
20~3~
1 corresponding notche$ ~2 a~d 73;in ~he keyed openin~ 57 on the
2 spool ll t~ hold the ~ord r~ta:iner as~embly i~ plaoe. The
3 cord reel as~embly 10 o~ the pr~6ent l~ention is then com-
~ pletely a~sembled and r~d~ fo~ use.
S If -the cord 12 l~ter ~ccome~ worn or d~m~ed and needs
~o be replaced, oord repla~ment can be accomplished wi.thout
7 disassembling ~he cord reel ~s~embly. To ~emove the cord, the
8 user fir~t unwind~ the cord l2 to expo~e the notche~ 72 ~nd 73
9 on the hub 15 of the ~pool ll. The user then ~as aoceQg to
the lock tabs 70 and 71 on the cord retainer pron~ portion6 61
ll and 6~. The locl{ t~b~ 7Q snd 71 are p~shed inw~rdlY to
12 disengage the locl~ tab~ from the no~he~ ?~ and 73. The cord
13 retainer as~embl~ 5G ~n then be remov~d ~x~m the keyed
14 openin~ 57. The co~d l2 on the oord retainer a~semblY 56 can
~hen be replaced with ~ ne~ oord, or a n~ cvrd pxea~qembled
16 with its own cord retainer ~embly oan be o~tained~ The new
17 aord is att~ohed to the cord reel agsembl,y by ~e-in~erti~g the
18 cord retainer ~sembly i~to the ke~ed opening 57 .
1~ OReration
The opera~ion of the oord r~el a~sembly lO of the present
21 inv~ntion ix a5 follows. As tlle user wi~hdr~s the ~ord, tho
~2 ~pool ll rotates on the ~le 23, a~ the spring ~otorasse~bly 35
23 i~ l~oulld. When the de~ired l~n~th o~ cord is reached, the
24 ~pool 11 ~t~empts to rot~te baok under the influehce of the
~prin~ ~otor, b~t the ~riction br~ke 46 enga~es th~ ou~er
2~ edge of the spool ~lange 14 t~ hold th@ spool 11 in positio~
27 ~gainst th~ torque of the sp~in~ ~otor. When the user ~esires
~8 to retract the cord, ~he u~er ~imply pu3he~ the br~ke release
29 le~er 51 ~n the fri~tion bra~e 46, and the ~rietion brake
pivots ~way from the spool ~l~nge 14 and disRngages fr~m the
31 spool 11 to ~llo~ ~he ~p~ing ~otor asse~bly 35 to rot~te the
3~ sp~ol in the ~ewi~d direction. As the spool 11 rotatesl the
33 c~ntrifugal foroe pro~uoe~ d~rin~ the retraction ~auses the
- ~0713~
-1~
1 br~ke m~mbers 46 to piYot o~twar~ly. The 'ora.ke memhers 4~
2 en~e -the ~m 27 on the h~ ~cket b~ 24 ~ control the speed
3 of rot,~ti.on of the spool 11. A the spuo~ 11 c~nt;.nl~e~ to
4 ~ tate, the ~ral~e members ~S con~inue to ~a~ upon bracket
~im 27 to preve~t th~ ~pool from rotatin~ a-t ~n evce.~ive
6 speed durin~ co~d retr~ction.
7 ~hile th~ inventiDn ha~ been ~hol~n and desor.i~ed with
8 re~pect to a p~rticul~r emb~dimen~ ther~ofl this is ~or the
g purp~e of illustr~tion rather than limitation. and other
v~riations ~nd modifications of the specifio ~mbodiment here~n
11 ~hown and de~cribed will be ~pparent ~o those skilled in the
~ rt ~11 wi~hin the in~ended spiri~ ~nd ~cope of the invention.
1~ A~Gordingly~ the patent i~ not to `oe limited in scope and
1~ e~eot to the ~peci~io embodiment herein shown and de~cribe~
nor in nnY other wa~ this is incon~ tent l~ith the ex~ent to
1& ~hlch ~he progress in ~he art has heen advanced by the inven-
17 tion.
.
7~3~
REFER~NC~, N MBERS
1~ cor~ re~1 a~c~bly 4~
11 ~pool 4~ bralle member
12 co~ 46 ~ric-tio~ ~rake
13 fi~st fl~n~e 47 protrusio~
14 ~econd fl~n~e ~8 pin
15 hub 49 brake Bpring
16 reel flan~e openin~s 50 post
~7 a~le opening 51 release lever
l8 52 brake portion
1g 53
5~ plu~
21 55
22 hr~cke~ 56 oord retain~r ~ssembly
23 a~le 57 ke~ed op~nln~
24 ~racket ba~e 53
25 p~atform 59
Z6 mountin~ me~n~ 60 ~ront sur~ace
27 rim 61 first prong portion
~8 62 ~eoond pron~ portion
29 ribbed por~iDn 63 rece~
30 outer axle portion 64
31 ~lip r.in~ a~embl~ 65
32 screw 66 first side }ce~ rib
~ 3 6 7 cecor,d s ide key rib
3~ 6~
35 sprin~ motor a~sembly 69
36 coil spri~ 70 fi~st lo~k tab
37 keep~r housin~ 71 second ,1,ock tab
3~ keeper tab 72 firqt notc~
39 t~bbed end 73 econd no~ch
40 hooked end 74 ~.ir9t $10t
~1 75 ~cond slot,
42 7~
43 k~ep~r tab openin~ 77
2 ~
7~ 109
79 110
~0 fi~t co~tact -termin~l 111
~l sec~nd contac;t 112
terminal 1l3
82 fir~t ~on~act ` 114
83 secot~d cont~ot 115
84 first ret~iner 116
terminal fl~nge 117
85 ~econd retainer 11
terminal flange 119
86 oha~er 120
87 a~Cess openi~g 121
88 fi~s-t cord -terminal 122
89 seo~nd o~rd termih~l l23
1 24
91 1~5
9~ slip r~g b~se 126
93 first ~lip ring 127
94 second slip ri~
96 first slip ri~
~ermirtal fl~n~e
97 ~ecollcl slip ~ing
terminal ~lan~e
~8 terminal wall
~9
10()
10~
102
103
~04
107
lOR
