Patent US3715526A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3715526A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Miniaturized electric cord reel
Assignee: Alert Stamping & Manufacturing
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Filing: 1971-03-15
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1991-03-15
Abstract
Abstract An improved electric cord reel construction is provided that is characterized by its miniature size. The simplified, relatively small structure is lightweight, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. The principal component part of the reel is preferably molded from plastic and has combined features normally supplied by additional, different parts secured together by various fasteners, thereby avoiding in the present structure the usual overall heavy, relatively bulky assembly. In one form, this component comprises a unitary, cup-shaped member which is so compactly designed as to include a hub portion on which an electric cord reel is wound, a flange for guiding the deposition of the cord, commutator rings to receive and transmit electrical energy to the cord, a bearing for mounting a shaft around which the unitary member relatively rotates, and a housing for a coiled spring adapted to maintain the reel in a home position. The cupshaped member receives and supports a second flange in spaced relation to its own flange, preferably at a spaced apart distance substantially equal to the width of a single electric cord.
Inventors
- 👤 C Blanch
- 👤 J Kovacik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:28
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02G; H02G11/00; H02G11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
In an electric cord reel, a unitary construction member adapted to serve as a support for substantially the remaining parts of the reel, said unitary construction member comprising a generally cup-shaped member having a substantially flat floor portion integral with an outwardly extending wall portion, said cup-shaped member having a first flange member extending radially outwardly past the wall portion, and an essentially centrally located hollow projection extending substantially coaxially with the wall portion and from the floor portion to define a shaft bearing adapted to receive a shaft, commutator rings secured to said floor portion of the cup-shaped member on a side thereof remote from said wall portion, a second, generally planar flange member having a housing offset from the plane of said second flange member and fitted to said wall portion to space said flange member inwardly of the end of said wall portion, and a coiled spring contained within said cup-shaped member, one end of the spring being adapted to be secured to such shaft within shaft bearing, and the other end of the spring being secured with respect to the cup-shaped member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
In an electric cord reel, a unitary construction member adapted to serve as a support for substantially the remaining parts of the reel, said unitary construction member comprising a generally cup-shaped member having a substantially flat floor portion integral with an outwardly extending wall portion, said cup-shaped member having a first flange member extending radially outwardly past the wall portion, and an essentially centrally located hollow projection extending substantially coaxially with the wall portion and from the floor portion to define a shaft bearing adapted to receive a shaft, commutator rings secured to said floor portion of the cup-shaped member on a side thereof remote from said wall portion, a second, generally planar flange member having a housing offset from the plane of said second flange member and fitted to said wall portion to space said flange member inwardly of the end of said wall portion, and a coiled spring contained within said cup-shaped member, one end of the spring being adapted to be secured to such shaft within shaft bearing, and the other end of the spring being secured with respect to the cup-shaped member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
186 words
In an electric cord reel, a unitary construction member adapted to serve as a support for substantially the remaining parts of the reel, said unitary construction member comprising a generally cup-shaped member having a substantially flat floor portion integral with an outwardly extending wall portion, said cup-shaped member having a first flange member extending radially outwardly past the wall portion, and an essentially centrally located hollow projection extending substantially coaxially with the wall portion and from the floor portion to define a shaft bearing adapted to receive a shaft, commutator rings secured to said floor portion of the cup-shaped member on a side thereof remote from said wall portion, a second, generally planar flange member having a housing offset from the plane of said second flange member and fitted to said wall portion to space said flange member inwardly of the end of said wall portion, and a coiled spring contained within said cup-shaped member, one end of the spring being adapted to be secured to such shaft within shaft bearing, and the other end of the spring being secured with respect to the cup-shaped member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
In an electric cord reel, a unitary construction member adapted to serve as a support for substantially the remaining parts of the reel, said unitary construction member comprising a generally cup-shaped member having a substantially flat floor portion integral with an outwardly extending wall portion, said cup-shaped member having a first flange member extending radially outwardly past the wall portion, and an essentially centrally located hollow projection extending substantially coaxially with the wall portion and from the floor portion to define a shaft bearing adapted to receive a shaft, commutator rings secured to said floor portion of the cup-shaped member on a side thereof remote from said wall portion, a second, generally planar flange member having a housing offset from the plane of said second flange member and fitted to said wall portion to space said flange member inwardly of the end of said wall portion, and a coiled spring contained within said cup-shaped member, one end of the spring being adapted to be secured to such shaft within shaft bearing, and the other end of the spring being secured with respect to the cup-shaped member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which said cup-shaped member is formed from a plastic material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which said second flange member is metallic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which said commutator rings are embedded in said floor portion on a side thereof remote from said wall portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which a shaft is mounted in said hollow projection defining a shaft bearing for relative rotation therewith, one end of the spring being secured to the shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The electric cord reel of claim 5 in which the coiled spring is substantially aligned radially of the cup-shaped member with the telescoping parts of said wall portion and housing, and the end of the coiled spring which is secured with respect to the cup-shaped member is secured to hook means on said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which a shaft is mounted in said hollow projection defining a shaft bearing for relative rotation therewith and extends through said floor portion of the cup-shaped member, and a commutator contact block is mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith relatively to said cup-shaped member and adapted to conTact the commutator rings in said floor portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which a shaft is mounted in said hollow projection defining a shaft bearing for relative rotation therewith and extends through said housing of said second flange member, ratchet means mounted on a part of the shaft so extending through the housing, and pawl means mounted on said second flange member for engagement with said ratchet means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which a shaft is mounted in said hollow projection defining a shaft bearing for relative rotation therewith, and said shaft has an axially offset portion to seat against the end of the hollow projection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which the outer end of said wall portion has a plurality of axially extending, circumferentially spaced tab portions, and said second flange member has openings adapted to receive said tab portions to secure said parts together.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The electric cord reel of claim 1 in which an inner periphery of said wall member is recessed to provide a seat for said coiled spring.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
227 words
In an electric cord reel, a unitary construction member adapted to serve as a support for substantially the remaining parts of the reel, said unitary construction member comprising a generally cup-shaped plastic member having a substantially flat floor portion integral with an outwardly extending wall portion, said floor portion having an integral first flange member extending radially of the cup-shaped member outwardly past the wall portion, and an essentially centrally located tubular projection extending substantially coaxially with the wall portion to define a shaft bearing, commutator rings embedded in said floor portion of the cup-shaped member on a side thereof remote from said wall portion, a second generally planar flange member having a substantially centrally located, offset housing of a size to telescope and tightly engage an outer end of said wall portion and space said second flange member from the first flange member a distance substantially equal to a width of an electric cord, a shaft mounted in said hollow projection for relative rotation therewith, a coiled spring contained within said cup-shaped member, one end of the spring being secured to the shaft and the other end of the spring being secured with respect to the cup-shaped member, and a commutator contact block mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the cup-shaped member and adapted to contact the commutator rings in said floor portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
227 words
In an electric cord reel, a unitary construction member adapted to serve as a support for substantially the remaining parts of the reel, said unitary construction member comprising a generally cup-shaped plastic member having a substantially flat floor portion integral with an outwardly extending wall portion, said floor portion having an integral first flange member extending radially of the cup-shaped member outwardly past the wall portion, and an essentially centrally located tubular projection extending substantially coaxially with the wall portion to define a shaft bearing, commutator rings embedded in said floor portion of the cup-shaped member on a side thereof remote from said wall portion, a second generally planar flange member having a substantially centrally located, offset housing of a size to telescope and tightly engage an outer end of said wall portion and space said second flange member from the first flange member a distance substantially equal to a width of an electric cord, a shaft mounted in said hollow projection for relative rotation therewith, a coiled spring contained within said cup-shaped member, one end of the spring being secured to the shaft and the other end of the spring being secured with respect to the cup-shaped member, and a commutator contact block mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the cup-shaped member and adapted to contact the commutator rings in said floor portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |