Chalk reel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12319086-B2
Application number	US-202318472772-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2023
Priority date	Feb 12, 2018
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

A chalk reel is provided that includes a handgrip on housing supporting a chalk line extending from a nozzle of the housing that extends from the chalk reel to mark a straight line. The chalk reel may further include a rotatable handle that rotates to extend or retract (“pay out”) the chalk line. A hook is secured to the end of the chalk line to facilitate extension of the chalk line and prevent retraction of the chalk line end into the housing nozzle. The chalk reel may further include a transmission system with gearing and a selector to lock the gearing at locations around the handle rotation. The chalk reel may also include a large removable cap to facilitate refilling the chalk or other marking material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A chalk reel comprising:
a housing comprising an outer surface, an internal chamber, a central axis, and an opening;
a handle configured to rotate in a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction about the central axis;
a spool;
a chalk line comprising a first end extending through the opening in the housing and a second end coupled to the spool; and
a selector that receives the handle in a plurality of positions;
wherein rotating the handle about the central axis rotates the spool;
wherein, when the handle is received by the selector in any one of the plurality of positions, the handle is prevented from rotating about the central axis.

2. The chalk reel of claim 1 , wherein, for each full rotation of the handle, the spool rotates more than one full rotation.

3. The chalk reel of claim 1 , wherein the handle pivots from a rotation position to a locked position, wherein the handle rotates in the rotation position to rotate the spool which in turn causes the chalk line to pay out from or wind on to the spool and wherein, when the handle is in the locked position, rotation of the spool is prevented.

4. The chalk reel of claim 1 , further comprising a ring gear, a sun gear, and two or more planet gears intermeshed between the ring gear and the sun gear, the sun gear being coupled to the spool, the ring gear and sun gear being concentric and centered on the central axis.

5. The chalk reel of claim 1 , wherein the selector couples to a ring gear coupled to the handle, the selector comprising a plurality of locking locations for the handle about the ring gear that lock the handle into one of the plurality of positions.

6. The chalk reel of claim 5 , further comprising a hook secured to the first end of the chalk line;
wherein the handle and the ring gear are a single integral part.

7. The chalk reel of claim 5 , further comprising a sun gear coupled to the spool and engaged with the ring gear coupled to the handle, the engagement of the ring gear to the sun gear providing a gear ratio that relates one rotation of the handle to multiple rotations of the spool.

8. The chalk reel of claim 5 , wherein the handle is pivotable and pivots from a rotation position to a locked position, wherein the handle extends away from the ring gear in the rotation position, and wherein the ring gear couples to the selector to form a plurality of detents that receive the handle within one of the detents to secure the handle at an angular position about the central axis with respect to the housing in the locked position.

9. The chalk reel of claim 8 , wherein the handle further includes tabs projecting from the handle and a knob at a distal end to facilitate rotation of the handle, and wherein the selector comprises projections adjacent to the detents, the projections and detents of the selector configured to receive the tabs of the handle in a locked position.

10. A chalk reel comprising:
a housing comprising an outer surface, an internal chamber, a first opening, and a second opening;
a spool;
a handle, the handle configured to rotate the spool;
a chalk line comprising a first end extending through the opening in the housing and a second end coupled to the spool;
a cam lock located in the second opening, the second opening providing access to the internal chamber; and
a removable cap comprising a cam portion configured to couple to the cam lock, wherein engagement of the cam lock to the cam portion of the removable cap seals the second opening.

11. The chalk reel of claim 10 , further comprising:
a tether comprising a first end coupled to the removable cap and a second end coupled to the housing; and
a hook secured to the first end of the chalk line.

12. The chalk reel of claim 10 , wherein the cam lock and the cam portion of the removable cap are circular and each have a diameter of between 0.25 in. and 2 in.

13. The chalk reel of claim 10 , wherein the removable cap comprises an exterior surface and a sealing surface, wherein an O-ring seal abuts the sealing surface of the removeable cap and surrounds the cam portion adjacent to the sealing surface to create a fluid tight seal along the cam lock when the removable cap is coupled to cam lock.

14. The chalk reel of claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of the second opening includes a gasket seal surrounding the cam lock, wherein the gasket seal is configured to create a fluid tight seal along the cam portion of the removable cap when the removable cap is coupled to the cam lock.

15. The chalk reel of claim 10 , wherein rotating the removable cap one quarter revolution in a first direction disengages the cam portion from the cam lock and rotating the removable cap one quarter revolution in a second direction opposite the first direction engages the cam portion with the cam lock.

16. The chalk reel of claim 10 , wherein the handle pivots from a rotation position to a locked position, wherein the handle rotates to pay out or receive chalk line from the spool in the rotation position and wherein the handle prevents rotation of the spool in the locked position.

17. The chalk reel of claim 10 , wherein the chalk line pays out at a ratio greater than 1:1, such that for each rotation of the spool the chalk line pays out more than one times a circumference of the spool.

18. A chalk reel comprising:
a housing comprising an outer surface, an internal chamber, a central axis, and an opening;
a marking material located in the internal chamber;
a handle, wherein the handle is adjustable between a rotation position and a plurality of locked positions, wherein, when the handle is in the rotation position, the handle is configured to rotate about the central axis in a clockwise direction and/or a counterclockwise direction, and wherein, when the handle is in one of the plurality of locked positions, the handle is prevented from rotating about the central axis;
a spool supported in the internal chamber of the housing, wherein rotating the handle rotates the spool; and
a chalk line comprising a first end extending through the opening in the housing and a second end coupled to the spool.

19. The chalk reel of claim 18 , the chalk reel further comprising:
a ring gear coupled to the handle; and
a sun gear coupled to the ring gear;
wherein the handle pivots from the rotation position to one of the plurality of locked positions at a locking location on the ring gear, wherein the handle rotates to pay out or receive chalk line from the spool in the rotation position and wherein the handle prevents rotation of the spool in the locked position at a locking location of the ring gear.

20. The chalk reel of claim 18 , the chalk reel further comprising:
a hook secured to the first end of the chalk line;
a ring gear coupled to the handle; and
a sun gear coupled to the ring gear;
wherein the chalk line pays out at ratio between 3:1 and 6:1, wherein for each rotation of the handle and the ring gear, the sun gear and the spool have a gear ratio that pays out more than four times a circumference of the spool.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Cemke Jr James A
• Paulsen Alexander J
• Debaker Joseph M

Classifications

• B65H75/4431

  Manual stop or release button · CPC title

• B65H75/406

  hand-held during use (B65H75/48, B65H75/4473 take precedence) · CPC title

• B44D3/38 Primary

  Cord line chalkers · CPC title