Retractable electric cord reel

Claim 2

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said reel assembly comprising a conductive mounting bracket having an axle extending therefrom and stationary electric wires, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle and having a pair of separate spaced conductive flanges electrically isolated from said bracket and a separate non-conductive hub sandwiched between said separate flanges, said separate hub and separate flanges being secured together, said flanges having dished portions at opposite sides of said hub, said cord reel receiving one end of the electric cord which is adapted to be wound on said cord reel for storage, said one end of the cord rotating with said cord reel, one of said dished portions on one of said flanges containing a spring motor for rewinding the cord on said cord reel, and the other of said dished portions on the other of said flanges containing electrical contact means for connecting said rotating one end of the cord to the stationary electric wires, and catch means in one or the other of said dished portions cooperating between said cord reel and said bracket for holding said cord reel in a predetermined rotated position.

Claim 3

A cord Reel assembly as in claim 1, wherein said catch means comprises a notch on said bracket, a pawl pivotally mounted in said other dished portion and a spring connected between said pawl and said other flange for urging said pawl into engaged relation with said notch.

Claim 4

A cord reel assembly as in claim 1, wherein said other flange has a central opening therein, said hub extending through said opening into said other dished portion of said other flange and adjacent said bracket, and said electrical contact means comprises contacts secured to one of said hub and bracket and cooperating slip rings secured to the other of said hub and bracket.

Claim 5

A cord reel assembly as in claim 1, wherein said one flange has a peripheral displaced portion providing a pocket in said one dished portion, said spring motor includes a coiled spring strip located in said one dished portion and having a hook formed on its outer end, said pocket receiving said hook, and the inner end of said spring strip being secured to said axle.

Claim 6

A cord reel assembly as in claim 4, wherein said spring motor further comprises a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said pocket also receiving said center portion of said clip, said hook end of said spring being located between said clip and said one flange, whereby only tension force is transmitted to said hook end, any bending force being transferred to said clip.

Claim 7

A cord reel assembly as in claim 5, wherein said center portion of said clip has a radially and inwardly bent edge for engaging said displaced portion of said one flange to prevent said clip from being dislodged from said pocket.

Claim 8

A cord reel assembly as in claim 4, further comprising a non-conductive bushing fixedly secured on said axle, said inner end of said spring strip engaging and being retained by said bushing, and an insulated disk for closing said one dished portion containing said spring motor and electrically isolating said spring motor.

Claim 9

A cord reel assembly as in claim 1, wherein said hub has a peripheral wall with an opening to receive said one end of said cord, said hub having an inner axial portion extending between said flanges and adjacent said bracket, a radial wall extending from said inner axial portion to said peripheral wall, said one end of said cord being secured to said radial wall and contained within a chamber enclosed by said hub and said one flange.

Claim 10

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said assembly including a mounting bracket having an axle, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle, said cord reel receiving one end of an electric cord adapted to be wound on said cord reel for storage, and a spring motor for rewinding said cord on said cord reel, said spring motor comprising a peripheral wall providing a pocket on said cord reel, a coiled strip with a hook formed on its outer end, and a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said pocket receiving said hook and said center portion of said clip, said center portion of said clip having a radially and inwardly bent lip engaging said pocket of said cord reel to prevent said clip from being dislodged from said pocket, said center portion of said clip being located between said hook of said spring and said peripheral wall of said cord reel, the other end of said spring being secured to said axle, whereby only tension force is transmitted to said hook end, any bending force being transferred to said clip.

Claim 11

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said assembly including a mounting bracket having an axle, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle, said cord reel receiving one end of an electric cord adapted to be wound on said cord reel for storage, and a spring motor for rewinding said cord on said cord reel, said spring motor comprising a peripheral wall providing a pocket on said cord reel, a coiled strip with a hook formed on its outer end, and a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said pocket receiving said hook and said center portion of said clip, said center portion of said clip having a radially and inwardly bent lip engaging said pocket of said cord reel to prevent said clip from being dislodged from said pocket, said center portion of said clip being located between said hook of said spring and said peripheral wall of said cord reel, the other end of said spring being secured to said axle, whereby only tension force is transmitted to said hook end, any bending force being transferred to said clip.

Claim 12

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said reel assembly comprising a mounting bracket having an axle, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle and having a pair of separate flanges and a separate hub sandwiched between said separate flanges, said separate hub and said pair of separate flanges being secured together, said flanges having dished portions at opposite sides of said hub, said hub and flanges defining an annular space to receive said corD, said cord reel receiving one end of the electric cord which is adapted to be wound on said hub between said flanges of said cord reel for storage, said one end of the cord rotating with said cord reel, one of said dished portions on one of said flanges containing a spring motor for rewinding the cord on said cord reel, and the other of said dished portions on the other of said flanges containing electrical contact means for connecting said rotating one end of the cord to stationary electric wires, and catch means in one of said dished portions cooperating between said cord reel and said bracket for holding said cord reel in a predetermined rotated position.

Claim 13

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said reel assembly comprising a mounting bracket having an axle, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle and having a pair of separate flanges and a separate hub sandwiched between said separate flanges, said separate hub and said pair of separate flanges being secured together, said flanges having dished portions at opposite sides of said hub, said hub and flanges defining an annular space to receive said corD, said cord reel receiving one end of the electric cord which is adapted to be wound on said hub between said flanges of said cord reel for storage, said one end of the cord rotating with said cord reel, one of said dished portions on one of said flanges containing a spring motor for rewinding the cord on said cord reel, and the other of said dished portions on the other of said flanges containing electrical contact means for connecting said rotating one end of the cord to stationary electric wires, and catch means in one of said dished portions cooperating between said cord reel and said bracket for holding said cord reel in a predetermined rotated position.

Claim 14

A cord reel assembly as in claim 10, wherein said hub is made of electrically non-conductive material and said pair of flanges is made of electrically conductive material.

Claim 15

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said cord reel assembly comprising: a metal mounting bracket having an integral axle and at least one pair of integral arms extending from one side, a strap secured to said arms and axle, and stationary electric wires; a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle and having a first metal flange spaced from said bracket, a non-conductive hub abutting said first metal flange, and a second metal flange abutting said hub, said hub and flanges being secured together; each of said flanges having a dished portion on its side opposite said hub and a central opening therein; said hub having a tubular axial portion extending on said axle between said openings in said flanges and abutting said bracket, said hub having an opening on its periphery to receive one end of the electric cord; said one end of the cord rotating with and being secured to said hub, said one end of the cord being contained within a chamber provided by said hub and said second flange; contact means contained in said dished portion of said first flange, including contacts secured to said hub and connected to said one end of the cord and cooperating slip rings secured to said bracket to connect said one end of the cord to said stationary electric wires on said bracket; catch means contained in said dished portion of said first flange, including a notch formed in said bracket, a pawl mounted on said first flange, and a spring connected between said first flange and said pawl; said second flange having a peripheral pocket in its dished portion; and a spring motor contained in said dished portion of said second flange, including a coiled strip with a narrowed neck and a hook at its outer end, a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said center portion having a bent free end to prevent said clip from being dislodged from said pocket, said pocket receiving said hook and said center portion of said clip, said clip being located radially inwardly of said hook of said strip, a non-conductive bushing fixedly secured on said axle, the inner end of said strip engaging said bushing, and an insulated disk convering said coiled strip and closing said dished portion of said second flange.

Claim 16

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said cord reel assembly comprising: a metal mounting bracket having an integral axle and at least one pair of integral arms extending from one side, a strap secured to said arms and axle, and stationary electric wires; a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle and having a first metal flange spaced from said bracket, a non-conductive hub abutting said first metal flange, and a second metal flange abutting said hub, said hub and flanges being secured together; each of said flanges having a dished portion on its side opposite said hub and a central opening therein; said hub having a tubular axial portion extending on said axle between said openings in said flanges and abutting said bracket, said hub having an opening on its periphery to receive one end of the electric cord; said one end of the cord rotating with and being secured to said hub, said one end of the cord being contained within a chamber provided by said hub and said second flange; contact means contained in said dished portion of said first flange, including contacts secured to said hub and connected to said one end of the cord and cooperating slip rings secured to said bracket to connect said one end of the cord to said stationary electric wires on said bracket; catch means contained in said dished portion of said first flange, including a notch formed in said bracket, a pawl mounted on said first flange, and a spring connected between said first flange and said pawl; said second flange having a peripheral pocket in its dished portion; and a spring motor contained in said dished portion of said second flange, including a coiled strip with a narrowed neck and a hook at its outer end, a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said center portion having a bent free end to prevent said clip from being dislodged from said pocket, said pocket receiving said hook and said center portion of said clip, said clip being located radially inwardly of said hook of said strip, a non-conductive bushing fixedly secured on said axle, the inner end of said strip engaging said bushing, and an insulated disk convering said coiled strip and closing said dished portion of said second flange.

Claim 17

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said reel assembly comprising a mounting bracket having an axle extending therefrom and stationary electric wires, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle and having a pair of spaced flanges and a hub between said flanges, said flanges having dished portions at opposite sides of said hub, said cord reel receiving one end of the electric cord which is adapted to be wound on said cord reel for storage, said one end of the cord rotating with said cord reel, one of said dished portions on one of said flanges containing a spring motor for rewinding the cord on said cord reel, and the other of said dished portions on the other of said flanges containing electrical contact means for connecting said rotating one end of the cord to the stationary electric wires, and catch means in one or the other of said dished portions cooperating between said Cord reel and said bracket for holding said cord reel in a predetermined rotated position, said one flange having a peripheral displaced portion providing a pocket in said one dished portion, said spring motor including a coiled spring strip located in said one dished portion and having a hook formed on its outer end, said pocket receiving said hook, and the inner end of said spring strip being secured to said axle, and a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said pocket also receiving said center portion of said clip, said hook end of said spring being located between said clip and said one flange, whereby only tension force is transmitted to said hook end, any bending force being transferred to said clip.

Claim 18

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said reel assembly comprising a mounting bracket having an axle extending therefrom and stationary electric wires, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle and having a pair of spaced flanges and a hub between said flanges, said flanges having dished portions at opposite sides of said hub, said cord reel receiving one end of the electric cord which is adapted to be wound on said cord reel for storage, said one end of the cord rotating with said cord reel, one of said dished portions on one of said flanges containing a spring motor for rewinding the cord on said cord reel, and the other of said dished portions on the other of said flanges containing electrical contact means for connecting said rotating one end of the cord to the stationary electric wires, and catch means in one or the other of said dished portions cooperating between said Cord reel and said bracket for holding said cord reel in a predetermined rotated position, said one flange having a peripheral displaced portion providing a pocket in said one dished portion, said spring motor including a coiled spring strip located in said one dished portion and having a hook formed on its outer end, said pocket receiving said hook, and the inner end of said spring strip being secured to said axle, and a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said pocket also receiving said center portion of said clip, said hook end of said spring being located between said clip and said one flange, whereby only tension force is transmitted to said hook end, any bending force being transferred to said clip.

Claim 19

A cord reel assembly as in claim 13, wherein said center portion of said clip has a radially and inwardly bent edge for engaging said displaced portion of said one flange to prevent said clip from being dislodged from said pocket.

Claim 20

In a retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, including a mounting bracket having an axle, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle, said cord reel receiving one end of an electric cord adapted to be wound on said cord reel for storage, said cord reel having a peripheral wall providing a pocket on said cord reel, and a coil strip spring motor for re-winding said cord on said cord reel, said strip having a hook formed on its outer end, said pocket receiving said hook, the other end of said strip being secured relative to said axle: the improvement comprising a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said pocket receiving said center portion of said clip, said center portion of said clip being located radially inwardly of said hook of said spring, whereby only tension force is transmitted to said hook, any bending force being transferred to said clip.

Claim 21

In a retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, including a mounting bracket having an axle, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said axle, said cord reel receiving one end of an electric cord adapted to be wound on said cord reel for storage, said cord reel having a peripheral wall providing a pocket on said cord reel, and a coil strip spring motor for re-winding said cord on said cord reel, said strip having a hook formed on its outer end, said pocket receiving said hook, the other end of said strip being secured relative to said axle: the improvement comprising a generally rectangular reinforcing clip having two cut-away portions adjacent a center portion, said pocket receiving said center portion of said clip, said center portion of said clip being located radially inwardly of said hook of said spring, whereby only tension force is transmitted to said hook, any bending force being transferred to said clip.

Claim 22

The structure as in claim 15, wherein said center portion of said clip has a radially inwardly bent lip for engaging said pocket of said cord reel to prevent said clip from being dislodged from said pocket.

Claim 23

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said cord reel assembly comprising: a conductive metal mounting bracket having an integral conductive metal axle and stationary electric wires; a composite cord reel including a first conductive metal flange spaced from said bracket, a non-conductive hub having one end abutting said first metal flange, and a second conductive metal flange, the other end of said hub abutting said second metal flange, means for securing said non-conductive hub and metal flanges together, said non-conductive hub being made of bearing material and having an opening for receiving said metal axle to journal said reel for rotation on said metal axle, each of said metal flanges having a dished portion on its side opposite said non-conductive hub and a central opening therein; said non-conductive hub having a tubular axial portion extending on said metal axle between said openings in said metal flanges to position said metal flanges and abutting said bracket to hold said first metal flange away from said bracket, said non-conductive hub having an opening on its periphery to receive one end of the electric cord; said one end of the cord rotating with and being secured to said hub, said one end of the cord being contained within a chamber provided by said non-conductive hub and said second metal flange; contact means contained in said dished portion of one of said metal flanges, a spring motor contained in said dished portion of the other of said metal flanges, and catch means contained in said dished portion of one or the other of said metal flanges.

Claim 24

A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, said cord reel assembly comprising: a conductive metal mounting bracket having an integral conductive metal axle and stationary electric wires; a composite cord reel including a first conductive metal flange spaced from said bracket, a non-conductive hub having one end abutting said first metal flange, and a second conductive metal flange, the other end of said hub abutting said second metal flange, means for securing said non-conductive hub and metal flanges together, said non-conductive hub being made of bearing material and having an opening for receiving said metal axle to journal said reel for rotation on said metal axle, each of said metal flanges having a dished portion on its side opposite said non-conductive hub and a central opening therein; said non-conductive hub having a tubular axial portion extending on said metal axle between said openings in said metal flanges to position said metal flanges and abutting said bracket to hold said first metal flange away from said bracket, said non-conductive hub having an opening on its periphery to receive one end of the electric cord; said one end of the cord rotating with and being secured to said hub, said one end of the cord being contained within a chamber provided by said non-conductive hub and said second metal flange; contact means contained in said dished portion of one of said metal flanges, a spring motor contained in said dished portion of the other of said metal flanges, and catch means contained in said dished portion of one or the other of said metal flanges.