Patents by Inventor Paul C. Burke

Paul C. Burke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5535960
    Abstract: A cord reel assembly is provided which maintains a length of stationary wire and a length of shielded retractable wire around a spool. The assembly dispenses the retractable wire as an attached handset is extended away from the assembly, while the stationary wire is concurrently being wound. A portion of the stationary wire internal to a housing enclosure is unshielded, while a portion extending outside the housing enclosure is shielded. The unshielded stationary wire is shielded by applying conductive paint or electroplating to the housing enclosure, thereby reducing EMI emissions. A spring cover retains a recoil spring and provides a bearing surface against a spindle member. The winding direction of the stationary and retractable wires is chosen, and the stationary wire conductors are arranged with shield ground wires, such that EMI emissions are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: GTE Airfone Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard E. Skowronski, Gary S. Feutz, William E. Hogg, Paul C. Burke
  • Patent number: 5094396
    Abstract: To provide a highly functional yet very compact retractable reel assembly for a telephone extension cord, a housing is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a wall in proximity to a telephone or telephone jack for utilization with either wall mounted or table telephones, respectively. The retractable reel assembly includes a reel biased for rotation in one direction, a ratchet for selectively restraining rotation of the reel in the one direction, and an expansion chamber for a length of the cord within the housing, whereby the portion of the cord leading to the telephone or telephone jack can normally be wound in a radially and axially confined planar helical array. With this arrangement, the retractable reel assembly can allow the portion of the cord to be repositioned to a radially expanded helical array during withdrawal of the remainder of the cord from the housing and returned to the radially and axially confined helical array during retraction of the remainder of the cord into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Inventor: Paul C. Burke
  • Patent number: 4989805
    Abstract: To provide a highly functional yet very compact retractable reel assembly for a telephone extension cord, a housing is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a wall in proximity to a telephone or telephone jack for utilization with either wall mounted or table telephones, respectively. The retractable reel assembly includes a reel biased for rotation in one direction, a ratchet for selectively restraining rotation of the reel in the one direction, and an expansion chamber for a length of the cord within the housing, whereby the portion of the cord leading to the telephone or telephone jack can normally be wound in a radially and axially confined planar helical array. With this arrangement, the retractable reel assembly can allow the portion of the cord to be repositioned to a radially expanded helical array during withdrawal of the remainder of the cord from the housing and returned to the radially and axially confined helical array during retraction of the remainder of the cord into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Inventor: Paul C. Burke
  • Patent number: D393410
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventors: Paul C. Burke, Richard Skowronski