Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With spring motor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-10
2001-09-25
Jillions, John M. (Department: 3653)
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With spring motor
C191S01220R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293485
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a retractable cord reel, and more particularly, to a latching system for latching the cord in an extended position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Retractable cord reels have been widely used in many applications, especially in telephonic applications. One type of cord reel includes a mechanism for automatically winding the cord. In this reel, the extended cord is constantly under tension. In other words, the user must exert some amount of force to prevent the cord from retracting onto the reel.
To facilitate the use of the cord, a latch mechanism has also been provided that can be operated to fix the cord in a desired, extended position. Typically, the latch mechanism includes a ratchet or pawl-type member that mechanically locks the cord in place after a user extends the cord to a desired position. To release the latch mechanism, the user applies a short pull on the cord. Thereafter the cord is free to retract onto the reel. A potential problem with this latch mechanism occurs where the cord is completely extended and latched in the completely-extended position. In that instance there is no available cord remaining on the reel to allow the user to apply the short pull to free the latch mechanism. The prior art has provided some solutions for this problem by disclosing various ways to prevent the latch mechanism from operating only over the last few inches of cord extraction.
After use of a cord in an extended position, the cord is normally stored on the reel. To do so, the user pulls on the cord and disengages the latch mechanism, thereby allowing the cord to retract onto the reel. Typically a free end of the cord is attached to an implement, a telephone handset, for example. While the cord is being wound onto the reel, the user also is attempting to store the implement in a desired storage location. For example, a telephone handset can be stored on a cradle. During retraction of the cord, the user guides the implement to its storage location. A hesitation in the movement of the retraction of the cord, or a slight extension of the cord, can trigger the latch mechanism, operating to latch the cord in place at an undesired time. When inadvertent latching occurs near the end of the act of storing the implement, a small amount of cord may remain extended even though the implement is in its stored location. This small amount of cord is unsightly and exposes the cord to damage.
This problem is particularly acute where the telephone is placed in a cradle found in a typical airplane setting. Because space is limited on an airplane, the handset is often stored in a receptacle mounted on a seatback of a chair. The receptacle is configured to closely conform to the handset. In the event that the user unintentionally triggers the latch mechanism leaving a small amount of the cord extended, the cord can prevent the handset from properly seating in the receptacle and the handset cannot be stored. In addition, the cord can be pinched between the handset and a wall of the receptacle, causing damage to the cord and wedging of the handset in the cradle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed toward providing a mechanism for selectively enabling and preventing a latch mechanism used in a cord reel at one or more selected lengths of cord. According to the invention, a lever is provided that will interrupt the operation of a direction sensor at any desired point or points. A cam wheel can be adapted to trigger the preventing function at the desired point or points.
In one embodiment, a selectively retractable cord reel storage assembly includes a reel that is rotatable to wind and unwind a length of material, a telephone cord, for example. The storage assembly includes a latch mechanism for latching the cord in an extended position. A pilot mechanism is operably engageable with the latch mechanism. The pilot mechanism is movable between a first and a second position, wherein in the first position the pilot mechanism prohibits the functioning of the latch mechanism, and wherein in the second position the latch mechanism is operable.
In other embodiments, a plurality of points along the range of cord extension between being fully wound onto the reel and being fully extended from the reel can be provided whereat the latch pilot mechanism switches between the engaged and disengaged conditions, respectively preventing the latch mechanism and allowing the latch mechanism to operate.
In another aspect of the invention, a storage assembly having a reel for storing a length of material includes a direction sensor and a lever. The direction sensor is operably arranged with the reel. The direction sensor can latch the reel such that the reel is prevented from moving in a retraction direction for winding the material onto the reel. The lever is operably engageable with the direction sensor. The lever is movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. When the lever is in the engaged position, the lever prevents the direction sensor from operating to latch the reel. When the lever is in the disengaged position, the direction sensor is free to operate to latch the reel. The lever can be automatically placed in the engaged position over a desired range of lengths of material extending from the reel.
A plate can support the latch mechanism and the latch pilot mechanism. The reel, the plate, the latch mechanism, and the latch pilot mechanism can be stored in a housing. The plate can be mounted to the housing. The reel is free to rotate in the housing to wind and unwind the cord.
In operation, the retractable cord reel features a two-stage system. When the cord is extended more than a predetermined length, such as eighteen inches, from the reel, for example, the cord may be locked in place. To release the cord from this locked position, a short pull is made on the cord. To return the telephone handset to its stored position in a cradle from a point where the cord is extended more than approximately eighteen inches, the cord is pulled and released. Thereafter, the cord is permitted to retract and to rewind onto the reel. While the latching cord reel of the prior art allowed for the cord to be latched at any position short of the fully-extracted position, the two-stage retractable cord reel of the present invention cannot be locked in place when the cord is extended less than the predetermined length, such as eighteen inches. In summary, so long as the cord is extended less than the predetermined length, e.g., eighteen inches, from the reel, the latch mechanism cannot be operated. The retraction mechanism mounted to the reel will fully retract the cord without leaving a “pigtail” of cord. This full retraction feature prohibits inadvertent locking of the cord with only an inch or two extended and avoids the problem of a pigtail of cord being pinched or wedged between the handset and the cradle.
In one method for selectively latching a length of material wound onto a reel, a latch mechanism and a pilot mechanism are provided. The pilot mechanism is engaged with the latch mechanism to prevent the operation of the latch mechanism over a predetermined range of travel of the length of material from the reel. The material is extended to a length greater than the predetermined length to disengage the pilot mechanism from the latch mechanism and to allow the latch mechanism to latch the cord.
In the following description, reference is sometimes made to the “top,” “bottom,” or other regions of the cord reel and its various components. It should be understood that these terms are used solely for convenient reference, inasmuch as the cord reel may be used omnidirectionally.
REFERENCES:
patent: 561421 (1896-06-01), Minnis
patent: 821753 (1906-05-01), Shimer
patent: 1116402 (1914-11-01), Ferguson
patent: 1271872 (1918-07-01), Eleyet
patent: 1288511 (1918-12-01), Clarke
patent: 1782191 (1930-11-01), Bolling
patent: 1865069 (1932-06-01), Allen
patent: 1958626 (1934-05-01), Krantz
patent: 2031434 (1936-02-01), Stern et al.
patent: 2206352 (1940-07-
Jillions John M.
Leydig , Voit & Mayer, Ltd.
The Morey Corporation
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