US20120234959A1 - Single action reel control mechanism - Google Patents
Single action reel control mechanism Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120234959A1 US20120234959A1 US13/048,055 US201113048055A US2012234959A1 US 20120234959 A1 US20120234959 A1 US 20120234959A1 US 201113048055 A US201113048055 A US 201113048055A US 2012234959 A1 US2012234959 A1 US 2012234959A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- actuator
- reel
- tracing
- housing
- brake
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 7
- 230000033001 locomotion Effects 0.000 description 7
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 210000003813 thumb Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007812 deficiency Effects 0.000 description 1
- 210000003811 finger Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
- B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
- B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
- B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
- B65H75/44—Constructional details
- B65H75/4418—Arrangements for stopping winding or unwinding; Arrangements for releasing the stop means
- B65H75/4428—Arrangements for stopping winding or unwinding; Arrangements for releasing the stop means acting on the reel or on a reel blocking mechanism
- B65H75/4431—Manual stop or release button
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01K—ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS
- A01K27/00—Leads or collars, e.g. for dogs
- A01K27/003—Leads, leashes
- A01K27/004—Retractable leashes
Definitions
- the invention pertains to a retractable reel control mechanism in the handle of a retractable device such as a pet leash or tape measure, which allows for releasable movement of the reel containing the cord, tape or other flexible line material through a single action upon the reel without the need for a separate lock button.
- One disadvantage of traditional retractable reel assemblies is that the switching mechanism for selecting between a spring-loaded tension mode and a locked mode of operation is somewhat clumsy to operate due to multiple steps required to shift from one function to the other.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,261 discloses an extendible and retractable lead that can be extended or retracted and locked in position in a single action.
- the single action feature is attained by means of a moveable member extending from the exterior of the casing into the interior thereof, and the interior part of the moveable member engages with a retainer in the form of a resiliently deformable latch in the form of a living hinge.
- U.S. Pat No. 7,784,728 discloses a rotational control device comprises a locking and unlocking button. While this invention improves the convenience of having a separate button for locking and unlocking functions, the invention still requires two buttons for each of the actions to the reel.
- the main object of the invention is to apply the intuitive operation of a trigger mechanism to the retractable device design, resulting an improved brake mechanism compared to the prior art that is safer and convenient to use.
- the invention remedies deficiencies in conventional reel control mechanism by providing in one embodiment a reel control device comprising a housing, a reel assembly, a reel brake, a tension element, an actuator, a track groove to regulate the function of said actuator to said reel, and a tracing pin located between said housing and said track groove, inserted into said track groove.
- the actuator is defined as an interface device between the user and the reel.
- the actuator is shaped as a trigger.
- the actuator can be shaped as a button on an alternative embodiment of the invention, and any person skilled in the art will be able to implement different variations of the actuator that performs the same task of being the interface device between the user and the reel.
- the present invention combines both actions into a single action on the actuator. This has several advantages: (1) A single motion on the actuator is a far more intuitive and simpler action than several motions of the thumb in order to achieve the same result, (2) the mechanism eliminates the need to manually lock the brake, since the majority of rotational control involve both braking and locking in the same instance.
- Another unique feature present in the current invention is having a brake that is a separable piece from the actuator, such that when the user activates the control through the actuator, the resulting force feedback from the brake stopping the reel is not directly channeled through the actuator in a one piece design. This results in more smooth action between the actuator, the brake and the reel while retaining instantaneous communication between the actuator, brake and reel when the user manipulates the actuator.
- FIG. 1 shows a vertical cutaway seen from the left hand side of an embodiment according to the invention in the form of a pet leash assembly, with the actuator at the “free” or ready position;
- FIG. 2 shows a vertical cutaway seen from the left hand side of an embodiment according to the invention in the form of a pet leash assembly, with the actuator at the locked position;
- FIG. 3 shows a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention in the form of a pet leash assembly embodiment having an unwinding arrangement for an animal leash;
- FIG. 4 shows a vertical cutaway of only the actuator mechanism seen in FIG. 1 , seen from the left hand side of the assembly.
- FIG. 5 shows a vertical cutaway of only the actuator mechanism seen in FIG. 4 , seen from the right hand side of the assembly.
- FIG. 6 shows an isometric view seen from the front left side of the actuator mechanism seen in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 7 shows a disassembled isometric view of only the actuator mechanism seen in FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view take from the user's left side of the inside of the retractable device at ready state where the reel is free to rotate.
- the actuator 1 is located at the handle 10 where the user would wrap his or her hand on the leash handle.
- Within the actuator a uniquely shaped tracing groove 4 is molded, and a tracing pin 3 is aligned within the track rail, at the ready position.
- Resting on the actuator is a brake 2 , held in place by a compression spring 7 .
- Another compression spring 6 is situated parallel to the trigger to hold the actuator in place and to hold the trigger at its designated positions.
- FIG. 2 uses the same perspective from FIG. 1 , with the actuator at its locked state.
- actuator 1 is slightly displaced from the ready state seen in FIG. 1
- tracing pin 3 is located at the locked position in the tracing groove 4 , locking the entire mechanism in this current state.
- Brake 2 is in locking position, coming to full contact with one of the reel teeth 5 .
- Both compression spring 6 and compression spring 7 are in compressed state.
- FIG. 7 shows a disassembled vertical cross-section view of the trigger mechanism, revealing the actuator rail 10 that pushes brake 2 toward the reel teeth when actuator 1 is pulled once from the ready state shown in FIG. 1 .
- Operation of the reel control mechanism can be split into two distinctive actions.
- the first action is when the actuator is pulled from its ready position. Pulling the actuator when it is at its ready position will result in simultaneously braking and locking the leash.
- actuator 1 gets pulled toward the user in a linear fashion.
- the rail portion of the actuator 1 travels along the brake 2 , pushing the brake 2 toward the reel 8 as the angled portion of the actuator rail 9 travels on the brake.
- the brake 2 then moves toward the reel, catching a tooth 5 on the reel 8 and stops the rotational motion of the reel.
- the actuator's 1 overall motion is regulated by a system comprising a tracing pin 3 that is mounted on the housing, and a uniquely shaped tracing groove 4 upon which the tracing pin 3 travels.
- the tracing pin 3 is mounted such that it can only travel by rotating in a small arc, roughly perpendicular to the motion of the actuator 1 .
- the tracing pin 3 is forced to move along the tracing groove 4 until it reaches the locked position, a ridge at which the tracing pin 3 will latch and lock in position until the next actuator 1 pull.
- the tracing pin 3 is locked in position due to tension resulting from a compression system 6 mounted parallel to actuator 1 within the housing. The leash is now locked as shown on FIG. 2 until actuator 1 is pulled again.
- the second action of the mechanism is when pulling the actuator 1 from its locked position. Pulling actuator 1 from its locked position results in the brake 2 simultaneously disengaging from and unlocking the reel 8 , and returning the actuator mechanism to its ready position.
- the mechanism of the second action goes as follows: User pulls actuator 1 from the locked position. Actuator 1 gets pulled toward the user in a linear fashion, identical to the first action. Displacement of actuator 1 also results in a simultaneous displacement of the tracing pin 3 from its locked position, forcing the tracing pin 3 to travel along the tracing groove 4 until it reaches its ready position, while the actuator moves back to its ready state. At the same time actuator 1 gets pulled and displacing itself to the ready position, the displacement of actuator 1 moves the actuator rail 9 from the brake 2 , resulting in the brake 2 returning to its ready state with the assistance of a compressed spring 7 , recoiling back to the ready state shown in FIG. 1 .
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Husbandry (AREA)
- Biodiversity & Conservation Biology (AREA)
- Storing, Repeated Paying-Out, And Re-Storing Of Elongated Articles (AREA)
Abstract
A retractable reel rotational control apparatus, comprising a mechanical actuator which simultaneously brakes and locks the reel in a single action of the actuator, and releases the brake and lock with a subsequent action, wherein the reel brake is separate from the actuator.
Description
- U.S. Provisional Application 61/387,374.
- Not Applicable.
- None.
- 1. Technical Field
- The invention pertains to a retractable reel control mechanism in the handle of a retractable device such as a pet leash or tape measure, which allows for releasable movement of the reel containing the cord, tape or other flexible line material through a single action upon the reel without the need for a separate lock button.
- 2. Prior Art
- Most of the available rotational control devices in the market use a locking mechanism which requires two-step action before the locking mechanism is applied to the leash: the user needs to activate the brake key, followed by the brake lock in order to lock the reel.
- One disadvantage of traditional retractable reel assemblies is that the switching mechanism for selecting between a spring-loaded tension mode and a locked mode of operation is somewhat clumsy to operate due to multiple steps required to shift from one function to the other.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,261 discloses an extendible and retractable lead that can be extended or retracted and locked in position in a single action. The single action feature is attained by means of a moveable member extending from the exterior of the casing into the interior thereof, and the interior part of the moveable member engages with a retainer in the form of a resiliently deformable latch in the form of a living hinge.
- U.S. Pat No. 7,784,728 discloses a rotational control device comprises a locking and unlocking button. While this invention improves the convenience of having a separate button for locking and unlocking functions, the invention still requires two buttons for each of the actions to the reel.
- Accordingly, a need remains for an improved locking mechanism in order to overcome such shortcomings in reel control devices, including means to allow for the lock and release of a retractable device in a more efficient single motion.
- The main object of the invention is to apply the intuitive operation of a trigger mechanism to the retractable device design, resulting an improved brake mechanism compared to the prior art that is safer and convenient to use.
- The invention remedies deficiencies in conventional reel control mechanism by providing in one embodiment a reel control device comprising a housing, a reel assembly, a reel brake, a tension element, an actuator, a track groove to regulate the function of said actuator to said reel, and a tracing pin located between said housing and said track groove, inserted into said track groove.
- The actuator is defined as an interface device between the user and the reel. In one embodiment of the invention, the actuator is shaped as a trigger. However, the actuator can be shaped as a button on an alternative embodiment of the invention, and any person skilled in the art will be able to implement different variations of the actuator that performs the same task of being the interface device between the user and the reel.
- Unlike the prior art, where the brake key and the brake lock are two separate actions using the thumb/finger, the present invention combines both actions into a single action on the actuator. This has several advantages: (1) A single motion on the actuator is a far more intuitive and simpler action than several motions of the thumb in order to achieve the same result, (2) the mechanism eliminates the need to manually lock the brake, since the majority of rotational control involve both braking and locking in the same instance.
- Another unique feature present in the current invention is having a brake that is a separable piece from the actuator, such that when the user activates the control through the actuator, the resulting force feedback from the brake stopping the reel is not directly channeled through the actuator in a one piece design. This results in more smooth action between the actuator, the brake and the reel while retaining instantaneous communication between the actuator, brake and reel when the user manipulates the actuator.
-
FIG. 1 shows a vertical cutaway seen from the left hand side of an embodiment according to the invention in the form of a pet leash assembly, with the actuator at the “free” or ready position; -
FIG. 2 shows a vertical cutaway seen from the left hand side of an embodiment according to the invention in the form of a pet leash assembly, with the actuator at the locked position; -
FIG. 3 shows a side elevation of an embodiment of the invention in the form of a pet leash assembly embodiment having an unwinding arrangement for an animal leash; -
FIG. 4 shows a vertical cutaway of only the actuator mechanism seen inFIG. 1 , seen from the left hand side of the assembly. -
FIG. 5 shows a vertical cutaway of only the actuator mechanism seen inFIG. 4 , seen from the right hand side of the assembly. -
FIG. 6 shows an isometric view seen from the front left side of the actuator mechanism seen inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 7 shows a disassembled isometric view of only the actuator mechanism seen inFIG. 4 . - 1 actuator
- 2 brake
- 3 tracing pin
- 4 tracing groove
- 5 reel teeth
- 6 actuator compression spring
- 7 brake compression spring
- 8 reel
- 9 actuator rail
- 10 handle
- 11 housing
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view take from the user's left side of the inside of the retractable device at ready state where the reel is free to rotate. Theactuator 1 is located at thehandle 10 where the user would wrap his or her hand on the leash handle. Within the actuator a uniquely shapedtracing groove 4 is molded, and atracing pin 3 is aligned within the track rail, at the ready position. Resting on the actuator is abrake 2, held in place by acompression spring 7. Anothercompression spring 6 is situated parallel to the trigger to hold the actuator in place and to hold the trigger at its designated positions. -
FIG. 2 uses the same perspective fromFIG. 1 , with the actuator at its locked state. Hereactuator 1 is slightly displaced from the ready state seen inFIG. 1 ,tracing pin 3 is located at the locked position in thetracing groove 4, locking the entire mechanism in this current state. Brake 2 is in locking position, coming to full contact with one of thereel teeth 5. Bothcompression spring 6 andcompression spring 7 are in compressed state. -
FIG. 7 shows a disassembled vertical cross-section view of the trigger mechanism, revealing theactuator rail 10 that pushesbrake 2 toward the reel teeth whenactuator 1 is pulled once from the ready state shown inFIG. 1 . - Operation of the reel control mechanism can be split into two distinctive actions. The first action is when the actuator is pulled from its ready position. Pulling the actuator when it is at its ready position will result in simultaneously braking and locking the leash.
- When the user pulls the
actuator 1 from the ready position,actuator 1 gets pulled toward the user in a linear fashion. As theactuator 1 gets displaced from its original position, the rail portion of theactuator 1 travels along thebrake 2, pushing thebrake 2 toward thereel 8 as the angled portion of theactuator rail 9 travels on the brake. Thebrake 2 then moves toward the reel, catching atooth 5 on thereel 8 and stops the rotational motion of the reel. The actuator's 1 overall motion is regulated by a system comprising atracing pin 3 that is mounted on the housing, and a uniquelyshaped tracing groove 4 upon which thetracing pin 3 travels. Thetracing pin 3 is mounted such that it can only travel by rotating in a small arc, roughly perpendicular to the motion of theactuator 1. As a result of the displacement of theactuator 1, thetracing pin 3 is forced to move along thetracing groove 4 until it reaches the locked position, a ridge at which thetracing pin 3 will latch and lock in position until thenext actuator 1 pull. Thetracing pin 3 is locked in position due to tension resulting from acompression system 6 mounted parallel toactuator 1 within the housing. The leash is now locked as shown onFIG. 2 untilactuator 1 is pulled again. - The second action of the mechanism is when pulling the
actuator 1 from its locked position. Pullingactuator 1 from its locked position results in thebrake 2 simultaneously disengaging from and unlocking thereel 8, and returning the actuator mechanism to its ready position. - The mechanism of the second action goes as follows: User pulls
actuator 1 from the locked position.Actuator 1 gets pulled toward the user in a linear fashion, identical to the first action. Displacement ofactuator 1 also results in a simultaneous displacement of thetracing pin 3 from its locked position, forcing thetracing pin 3 to travel along thetracing groove 4 until it reaches its ready position, while the actuator moves back to its ready state. At thesame time actuator 1 gets pulled and displacing itself to the ready position, the displacement ofactuator 1 moves theactuator rail 9 from thebrake 2, resulting in thebrake 2 returning to its ready state with the assistance of acompressed spring 7, recoiling back to the ready state shown inFIG. 1 . - Although the drawings depict the invention of the reel rotational control device embodied in a dog leash, one skilled in the art will readily see other applications for the mechanism in various tools, toys and the like, such that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
Claims (8)
1. A retractable reel rotation control apparatus with a single multifunction actuator comprising:
a. A housing;
b. An actuator;
c. A reel;
d. A tension element furled and unfurled by said reel;
e. A brake connecting said actuator to said reel;
f. A tracing groove to regulate the function of said actuator to said reel, where the tracing groove is in the surface of the actuator;
g. A tracing pin located between said housing and said tracing groove, where one end of said pin is pivotally mounted to said housing and the other end of said pin freely traces said tracing groove.
2. A retractable reel rotational control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises of two halves.
3. A retractable reel rotational control apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is a trigger.
4. A retractable reel rotational control apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the actuator is a button.
5. A retractable reel rotation control device with a single multifunction control device comprising:
a. A housing;
b. An actuator;
c. A reel;
d. A tension element furled and unfurled by said reel;
e. A brake connecting said actuator to said reel;
f. A tracing groove to regulate the function of said actuator to said reel, where the tracing groove is located on the housing of the rotational control device;
g. A tracing pin located between said housing and said tracing groove, where one end of said pin is pivotally mounted to said housing and the other end of said pin freely traces said tracing groove.
6. A retractable reel rotational control device of claim 5 , wherein the housing comprises of two halves.
7. A retractable reel rotational control device of claim 6 , wherein the control device is a trigger.
8. A retractable reel rotational control device of claim 6 , wherein the control device is a button.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/048,055 US20120234959A1 (en) | 2011-03-15 | 2011-03-15 | Single action reel control mechanism |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/048,055 US20120234959A1 (en) | 2011-03-15 | 2011-03-15 | Single action reel control mechanism |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120234959A1 true US20120234959A1 (en) | 2012-09-20 |
Family
ID=46827697
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/048,055 Abandoned US20120234959A1 (en) | 2011-03-15 | 2011-03-15 | Single action reel control mechanism |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20120234959A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US9339014B1 (en) * | 2014-08-26 | 2016-05-17 | Richard Thomas | Retractable leash with gradual braking |
US20160278345A1 (en) * | 2011-07-05 | 2016-09-29 | Eric James Holmstrom | Retractable leash system |
US20180206454A1 (en) * | 2015-06-15 | 2018-07-26 | Techsynergy Limited | Retractable animal leash |
US10308475B2 (en) * | 2017-06-14 | 2019-06-04 | Fuyou Shi | Switching mechanism for traction device |
US11357213B2 (en) * | 2019-01-14 | 2022-06-14 | Gentleash Oy | Leash assembly |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5377626A (en) * | 1993-05-10 | 1995-01-03 | Kilsby; Celia | Lunge line controller |
-
2011
- 2011-03-15 US US13/048,055 patent/US20120234959A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5377626A (en) * | 1993-05-10 | 1995-01-03 | Kilsby; Celia | Lunge line controller |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160278345A1 (en) * | 2011-07-05 | 2016-09-29 | Eric James Holmstrom | Retractable leash system |
US10172327B2 (en) * | 2011-07-05 | 2019-01-08 | Eric James Holmstrom | Retractable leash system |
US10178855B2 (en) | 2011-07-05 | 2019-01-15 | Eric James Holmstrom | Retractable leash system |
US9339014B1 (en) * | 2014-08-26 | 2016-05-17 | Richard Thomas | Retractable leash with gradual braking |
US20180206454A1 (en) * | 2015-06-15 | 2018-07-26 | Techsynergy Limited | Retractable animal leash |
US10645907B2 (en) * | 2015-06-15 | 2020-05-12 | Techsynergy Limited | Retractable animal leash |
US10308475B2 (en) * | 2017-06-14 | 2019-06-04 | Fuyou Shi | Switching mechanism for traction device |
US11357213B2 (en) * | 2019-01-14 | 2022-06-14 | Gentleash Oy | Leash assembly |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |