CA2071399A1 - Retractable electric cord reel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

RETRACTABLE ELECTRIC CORD REEL ASSEMBLY

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord comprises a mounting bracket having an axle extending there-from and a spool rotatably mounted on the axle. The spool has a hub, and the hub has a keyed opening extending axially into the hub. A cord retainer assembly receives one end of the electric cord which is adapted to be word on the spool for storage. The cord retainer assembly slides into the keyed opening to be lockingly retained therein. The cord retainer assembly, with attached cord, may be separately inventoried since the cord does not need to be connected to the spool when the cord reel is assembled or when the cord reel is mounted on the appliance or other device. The cord can be subsequently assembled with the cord reel assembly at a later time.

Description

- 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~'~

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 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~

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 ~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 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~

~04 lOR

Claims (16)

1. A retractable cord reel assembly for an electric cord, comprising:
a mounting bracket having an axis extending therefrom;
spool rotatably mounted on the axle, the spool having a hub, the hub having a keyed opening extending axially into the hub;
a cord retainer assembly for receiving one end of the electric cord which is adapted to be wound on the spool for storage, the cord retainer assembly sliding into the keyed opening to be lockingly retained therein; and spring motor means for rewinding the cord on the spool.

2. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cord retainer assembly includes a pair of contacts, and wherein the cord reel assembly comprises in addition a slip ring assembly adjacent to the spool, the slip ring assembly comprising a pair of slip rings which engage the contacts on the cord retainer assembly.

3. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the slip ring assembly includes a pair of concen-tric slip ring contacts.

4. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the contacts are integrally formed with terminals to which the electric cord may be attached.

5. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein the cord retainer assembly is molded of a plastic material and the contacts are molded into the cord retainer assembly.

6. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cord retainer assembly has key ribs thereon which engage corresponding key slots in the keyed opening.

7. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cord retainer assembly has lock tab means that engage corresponding notches means in the keyed opening to locking retain the cord retainer assembly therein.

8. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein the notch means are accessible from the exterior of the spool to permit the lock tabs to be disengaged from the notch means to remove the cord retainer assembly.

9. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the cord retainer assembly has a curved surface which generally conforms to the circumference of the hub when the cord retainer assembly is inserted into the keyed opening.

10. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 1, comprising in addition means for selectively preventing rotation of the spool including a friction brake mounted on the bracket and capable of engaging a portion of the spool and capable of disengaging from the spool to allow the spool to rotate under influence of the spring motor means to wind the cord on the reel.

11. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 1, comprising in addition a centrifugal brake assembly includ-ing a brake member mounted on the reel and capable of outward movement upon rotation of the spool to engage a portion of the mounting bracket.

12. The retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein the brake member is generally curved with two ends and is pivotally mounted at one end to allow the other end to extend outwardly by centrifugal force then the cord retracts.

13. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited is claim 1, wherein the cord retainer assembly includes a pair of prong portions with a recess therebetween to provide clearance for the axle.

14. A retractable cord reel assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein a portion of the spool has a plurality of openings therein to facilitate cooling of the electric cord.

15. A method of assembly a cord reel assembly, which comprises the steps of;
assembling a spool with spring motor means;
mounting the spool on a mounting bracket;
attaching a cord to a cord retainer assembly; and attaching the cord retainer assembly to the spool after the spool has been mounted on the mounting bracket.

16. The method of assembling a cord reel assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein the cord retainer assembly is attached to the spool by inserting the cord retainer assembly into a keyed opening in the cord reel.