Retractable cable and cable rewind spool configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9923312-B2
Application number	US-201414296740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 5, 2014
Priority date	Jun 20, 2013
Publication date	Mar 20, 2018
Grant date	Mar 20, 2018

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 with a spool gear on an exterior surface of the cable spool which rotates around a first clutch bearing;
a spool spring included in the cable spool and having an end thereof affixed to the first clutch bearing, wherein the spool spring is configured to rewind a cable included in the cable spool via a retractable force that increases as the cable spool and the first clutch bearing are unwound; and
a cable spool brake having:
a second clutch bearing;
a toothed gear disposed on the second clutch bearing that is in direct contact with the spool gear to regulate movement of the cable spool and associated cable removal of cable wrapped around the cable spool,

wherein the cable spool brake enables the spool gear to turn without braking while the cable is being unwound from the cable spool and locks the cable spool when the cable is released by causing the toothed gear to engage the spool gear thereby preventing the spool spring from retracting and rewinding the cable.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cable spool brake further comprises a spring biased release lever that regulates movement of the toothed gear.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 ; wherein the cable spool 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.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the pivot arm is attached to a first axle and a second axle and pivots around the first axle when the spring biased release lever is shifted to make contact with the pivot arm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the pivot arm is attached to a second axle comprising a second clutch bearing disposed on the second axle and the toothed gear rotates around the second axle which is also attached to the pivot arm.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein a diameter of the second clutch bearing is smaller than a diameter of the first clutch bearing.

7. The apparatus of 5 , wherein the spring biased release lever is shifted via a depression actuation performed at a top portion of the spring biased release lever.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the depression actuation of the spring biased release lever causes the pivot arm to engage the toothed gear with the spool gear.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cable spool 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 permit movement of the toothed gear when the spring biased release lever is in an open position.

10. An apparatus comprising:
a clutch bearing;
a toothed gear disposed on the clutch bearing and which is in direct contact with a spool gear to regulate movement of a cable spool and associated cable removal of a cable wrapped around the cable spool;
a spring biased release lever that regulates movement of the toothed gear; and
a cable spool brake having a pivot arm in contact with the spring biased release lever and configured to contact the toothed gear, wherein actuation of the spring biased release lever causes the pivot arm to engage the toothed gear with the spool gear to stop movement of the spool gear when the spring biased release level is in a closed position.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , 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.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the pivot arm is attached to a first axle and a second axle, and pivots around the first axle when the spring biased release lever is shifted to make contact with the pivot arm.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the pivot arm comprises the clutch bearing which is disposed on the second axle and wherein the toothed gear rotates around the second axle.

14. The apparatus of 13 , wherein the spring biased release lever is shifted via a depression actuation performed at a top portion of the spring biased release lever.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the depression actuation of the spring biased release lever causes the pivot arm to engage the toothed gear with the spool gear.

Assignees

• Amx Llc

Inventors

• Laube Douglas N
• Freitas Michael Woodford

Classifications

• B65H75/44

  Constructional details · CPC title

• B65H75/4442

  acting on the reel · CPC title

• B65H75/4471

  Housing enclosing the reel · CPC title

• B65H75/4449

  Arrangements or adaptations to avoid movable contacts or rotary couplings, e.g. by the use of an expansion chamber for a lenght of the cord or hose · CPC title

• H01R13/72 Primary

  Means for accommodating flexible lead within the holder · CPC title