US20090121068A1

US20090121068A1 - Wire Rack Assembly

Info

Publication number: US20090121068A1
Application number: US11/938,253
Authority: US
Inventors: Chi-Wen Chen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-11-09
Filing date: 2007-11-09
Publication date: 2009-05-14

Abstract

A wire rack assembly includes: a casing defining an accommodating space therein and provided with a plurality of first conductive members that are disposed in the accommodating space; a first wire connected to the first conductive members and provided with a plug that is disposed outwardly of the accommodating space; a reel mounted rotatably on the casing, defining a winding space, and provided with a plurality of second conductive members that are respectively in sliding contact with the first conductive members; and a second wire wound on the reel, connected to the second conductive members, and provided with a receptacle that is disposed outwardly of the winding space and the accommodating space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a wire rack assembly, more particularly to a wire rack assembly including a first wire fixed to a casing and provided with a plug, and a second wire wound on a reel and provided with a receptacle.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional wire rack assembly 1 includes a casing 10, a rotatable reel 11 mounted rotatably on the casing 10, a power cord 12 wound on the reel 11 and operable to be unwound from the reel 11, and receptacles 13 mounted securely on the casing 10 and connected electrically to the power cord 12 for plugging of external electric wires. The power cord 12 includes a plug 121 for plugging into a power supply.
In use, the plug 121 is plugged into a power supply and the power cord 12 is unwound from the reel 11 so as to permit transport of the receptacles 13 together with the casing 10 and the reel 11 to a desired site for subsequent use. However, since the casing 10 together with the reel 11 and the receptacles 13 has a relatively large volume and weight, transport of the same is relatively inconvenient, and difficulty in placement of the receptacles 13 due to an unsuitable site, where the receptacles 13 are to be placed, may be encountered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a wire rack assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawbacks associated with the,prior art.
Accordingly, a wire rack assembly of the present invention includes: a casing defining an accommodating space therein and provided with a plurality of first conductive members that are disposed in the accommodating space;a first wire connected to the first conductive members and provided with a plug that is disposed outwardly of the accommodating, space; a reel mounted rotatably on the casing, defining a winding space, and provided with a plurality of second conductive members that are respectively in sliding contact with the first conductive members; and a second wire wound on the reel so as to be received in the winding space, connected to the second conductive members, and provided with a receptacle that is disposed outwardly of the winding space and the accommodating space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be come apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional wire rack assembly;

FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a wire rack assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of a positioning seat and a first wire of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a partly sectional view illustrating how the first wire is in sliding contact with conductive members of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating how a second wire is connected to the conductive members of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a wire rack assembly 2 according to the present invention is shown to include: a casing 21 defining an accommodating space 20 therein and provided with a plurality of first conductive members 25 that are disposed in the accommodating space 20; a first wire 231 connected to the first conductive members 25 and provided with a plug 239 that is disposed outwardly of the accommodating space 20; a reel 22 mounted rotatably on the casing 21, defining a winding space 223, and provided with a plurality of second conductive members 23 that are respectively in sliding contact with the first conductive members 25; and a second wire 24 wound on the reel 22 so as to be received in the winding space 223, connected to the second conductive members 23, and provided with a receptacle 242 that is disposed outwardly of the winding space 223 and the accommodating space 20. The winding mechanism of the reel 22 is conducted through a disc-shaped torsion spring (not shown), which is well known in the art, and hence is not further detailed herein.
The receptacle 242 is formed with a plurality of plug-inserting units 2421, each of which is formed with at least a pair of slots 2422 adapted for extension of a pair of blades of an external plug (not shown) thereinto.
The reel 22 has first and second wheels 222, 221 and a hollow hub 224 that interconnects and that cooperates with the first and second wheels 222,221 to define the winding space 223 there among. The first wheel 222 has a central wall 226 with inner and outer surfaces 2261, 2262 (see FIGS. 3 and 6). Each of the second conductive members 23 includes an annular plate 232 that is attached to the outer surface 2262 of the central wall 226 of the first wheel 222, and a connecting piece 234 extending from the annular plate 232 through the central wall 26 and into the hub 224. The annular plates 232 of the second conductive members 23 are disposed concentrically.
Referring to FIG. 6, the second wire 24 extends into the hub 224 to connect with the connecting pieces 234 of the second conductive members 23. In this embodiment, the second wire 24 has three coupling ends 241, each of which is connected to a respective one of the connecting pieces 234.
The reel 22 is further provided with three annular confining members 233 (see FIG. 3) that protrude from and that are secured to the outer surface 2262 of the central wall 226 of the first wheel 222 and that are concentrically disposed to define a plurality of concentrically disposed confining grooves 2330 (see FIG. 5). Each of the annular plates 232 of the second conductive members 23 is disposed in a respective one of the confining grooves 2330.
Referring to FIG. 4, in combination with FIGS. 3 and 5, the casing 21 is further provided with a positioning seat 235 secured thereto, disposed in the accommodating space 20, abutting against the annular confining members 233, and formed with a plurality of positioning holes 236 that are axially and respectively aligned with the confining grooves 2330. Each of the first conductive members 25 includes a spring-biased terminal pins 237 that is urged by a spring 238, that is connected to the first wire 231, and that extends through a respective one of the positioning holes 236 to contact slidingly a respective one of the annular plates 232 of the second conductive members 23.
In use, the wire rack assembly 2 is secured removably to a wall provided with a power supply (not shown), into which the plug 239 can be plugged. The second wire 24 is then unwound from the reel 22, and the receptacle 242 is carried to the desired site where an external plug (not shown) can be plugged thereinto. As compared to the aforesaid conventional wire rack assembly, the operation of the wire rack assembly 2 of this invention is more convenient and the occurrence of a placement problem due to an unsuitable site can be avoided.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A wire rack assembly comprising:

a casing defining an accommodating space therein and provided with a plurality of first conductive members that are disposed in said accommodating space;

a first wire connected to said first conductive members and provided with a plug that is disposed outwardly of said accommodating space;

a reel mounted rotatably on said casing, defining a winding space, and provided with a plurality of second conductive members that are respectively in sliding contact with said first conductive members; and

a second wire wound on said reel so as to be received in said winding space, connected to said second conductive members, and provided with a receptacle that is disposed outwardly of said winding space and said accommodating space.

2. The wire rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receptacle is formed with a plurality of plug-inserting units, each of which is formed with at least a pair of slots adapted for extension of a pair of blades of an external plug thereinto.

3. The wire rack assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reel has first and second wheels and a hollow hub that interconnects and that cooperates with said first and second wheels to define said winding space there among, said first wheel having a central wall with inner and outer surfaces, each of said second conductive members including an annular plate that is attached to said outer surface of said central wall of said first wheel, and a connecting piece extending from said annular plate through said central wall and into said hub,said annular plates of said second conductive members being disposed concentrically.

4. The wire rack assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second wire extends into said hub to connect with said connecting pieces of said second conductive members.

5. The wire rack assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein said reel is further provided with a plurality of annular confining members that protrude from and that are secured to said outer surface of said central wall of said first wheel and that are concentrically disposed to define a plurality of concentrically disposed confining grooves, each of said annular plates of said second conductive members being disposed in a respective one of said confining grooves.

6. The wire rack assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein said casing is further provided with a positioning seat secured thereto, disposed in said accommodating space, abutting against said annular confining members, and formed with a plurality of positioning holes that are axially and respectively aligned with said confining grooves, each of said first conductive members including a spring-biased terminal pin that is connected to said first wire and that extends through a respective one of said positioning holes to contact slidingly a respective one of said annular plates of said second conductive members.