Retractable cable and cable rewind spool configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9309087-B2
Application number	US-201414296631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2014
Priority date	Jun 20, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2016
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016

Abstract

A spool apparatus is described to include in one particular example a cable spool with a first cylindrical lip and a second cylindrical lip on an opposite side of the cable spool. A center of the spool includes a clutch bearing in the center of both the first cylindrical lip and the second cylindrical lip that provides a rotational axis for the cable spool to rotate around. The apparatus may also include a feed slot near the first cylindrical lip that provides a passage for cable to pass from the second cylindrical lip to the first cylindrical lip.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a cable spool housing comprising a back plate and a front plate;
a cable spool with a first cylindrical lip on a first side of the cable spool housing and a second cylindrical lip on a second side of the cable spool housing opposite the first side and a cable wound around the first cylindrical lip and the second cylindrical lip; and
a clutch bearing in the center of both the first cylindrical lip and the second cylindrical lip that provides a rotational axis for the cable spool to rotate around.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a feed slot contiguous with the first cylindrical lip that provides a passage for cable to pass from the second cylindrical lip to the first cylindrical lip.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first cylindrical lip has a longer diameter than a diameter of the second cylindrical lip.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a drive adaptor configured to turn freely while the cable is being unwound from the spool and to lock when a rewinding movement of the spool is initiated, and wherein the drive adaptor is positioned inside the clutch bearing.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power spring band affixed at a first end to an interior surface inside an area of the first cylindrical lip and affixed at a second end to the clutch bearing, and wherein the power spring band is comprised of an elastic material that extends as the cable spool is rotated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spool supporting protrusion extending from a body of the cable spool housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising:
an electronic data interface affixed to one end of the cable and resting against an orifice in the spool supporting protrusion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the electronic data interface is at least one of a video graphics adaptor (VGA), a universal serial bus (USB) interface and a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI).

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a dampener affixed to the back plate of the spool housing in direct contact with the clutch bearing to reduce rotational speed of the spool.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a brake comprising another clutch bearing and a spring biased release lever that regulates movement of the clutch bearing to reduce undesired movement of the cable.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the brake further comprises a toothed gear that is in direct contact with an outer gear of the spool and which is rotated around the another clutch bearing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the brake further comprises a pivot arm, wherein the spring biased release lever is in direct contact with the pivot arm and causes the pivot arm to stop movement of the toothed gear when the spring biased release lever is in a closed position.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the brake further comprises a pivot arm, and wherein the spring biased release lever is in direct contact with the pivot arm and causes the pivot arm to permit movement of the toothed gear when the spring biased release lever is in an open position.

14. An apparatus comprising:
a first cable spool comprising a first cylindrical lip;
a second cable spool affixed to an opposite side of the first spool comprising a second cylindrical lip that is smaller in diameter than a diameter of the first cylindrical lip;
a clutch bearing in the center of both the first cylindrical lip and the second cylindrical lip that provides a rotational axis; and
a feed slot contiguous with the first cylindrical lip that provides a passage for cable to pass from the second cylindrical lip to the first cylindrical lip.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a drive adaptor configured to turn freely while the cable is being unwound from the spool and to lock when a rewinding movement of the spool is initiated, and wherein the drive adaptor is positioned inside the clutch bearing.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising:
a power spring band affixed at a first end to an interior surface inside an area of the first cylindrical lip and affixed at a second end to the clutch bearing, and wherein the power spring band is comprised of an elastic material that extends as the first cable spool and the second cable spool are rotated.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , further comprising:
an electronic data interface affixed to one end of the cable and resting against an orifice in a supporting protrusion affixed to the first cable spool and the second cable spool.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the electronic data interface is at least one of a video graphics adaptor (VGA), a universal serial bus (USB) interface and a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI).

Assignees

• Amx Llc
• Amx Llc

Inventors

• Laube Douglas N
• Freitas Michael Woodford

Classifications

• H01R13/72 Primary

  Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder · CPC title

• B65H75/4457

  Arrangements of the frame or housing · CPC title

• H02G11/02

  using take-up reel or drum · CPC title

• B65H75/4442

  acting on the reel · CPC title

• B65H75/486

  Arrangements or adaptations of the spring motor · CPC title