Cord Storage Assembly

A cord storage assembly for retracting an electrical cord when the electrical cord is not in use includes a spool that is movably coupled to an article of medical equipment. A motor is coupled to the spool. The motor moves the spool. An actuator is coupled to the article of medical equipment. The actuator is operationally coupled to the motor. The actuator actuates the motor. The electrical cord is coupled to the spool. The electrical cord extends outwardly from the article of medical equipment. The spool releases the electrical cord so the electrical cord is extendable away from the article of medical equipment. The spool retracts the electrical cord into the article of medical equipment. The electrical cord does not pose a tripping hazard when the article of medical equipment is not in use.

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Description
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE Field of the Disclosure

The disclosure relates to storage devices and more particularly pertains to a new storage device for retracting an electrical cord when the electrical cord is not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a spool that is movably coupled to an article of medical equipment. A motor is coupled to the spool. The motor moves the spool. An actuator is coupled to the article of medical equipment. The actuator is operationally coupled to the motor. The actuator actuates the motor. The electrical cord is coupled to the spool. The electrical cord extends outwardly from the article of medical equipment. The spool releases the electrical cord so the electrical cord is extendable away from the article of medical equipment. The spool retracts the electrical cord into the article of medical equipment. The electrical cord does not pose a tripping hazard when the article of medical equipment is not in use.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cord storage assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a back view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a method of utilizing an embodiment of the disclosure.

 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new storage device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the cord storage assembly 10 generally comprises a spool 12. The spool 12 has an outer surface 14 extending between each of a first end 16 and a second end 18 of the spool 12. The outer surface 14 of the spool 12 is curvilinear. Moreover, the spool 12 has a cylindrical shape.

The spool 12 is rotatably coupled to an article of medical equipment 20. The spool 12 is positioned within an interior of a housing 22 of the article of medical equipment 20. The article of medical equipment 20 may be a patient monitoring device of any conventional design.

A motor 24 is coupled to the first end 16 of the spool 12. The motor 24 rotates the spool 12 in a dispensing direction and a retracting direction. The motor 24 is electrically coupled to a power supply 26 in the article of medical equipment 20. The motor 24 may be an electrical motor of any conventional design.

An actuator 28 is coupled to a front side 30 of the article of medical equipment 20. The actuator 28 is electrically coupled to the motor 24. The actuator 28 actuates the motor 24. The actuator 28 is one of a pair of actuators 32. A first one 34 of the pair of actuators 32 actuates the motor 24 so the motor 24 rotates the spool 12 in the retracting direction. A second one 36 of the pair of actuators 32 de-actuates the motor 24. The spool 12 spins freely when the motor 24 is de-actuated.

An electrical cord 38 is provided. The electrical cord 38 has a coupled end 40 and a free end 42. The coupled end 40 of the electrical cord 38 is coupled to the outer surface 14 of the spool 12. Moreover, the electrical cord 38 extends outwardly from a bottom side 43 of the housing 22 of the article of medical equipment 20. A plug 44 is coupled to the free end 42 of the electrical cord 38. The plug 44 is selectively coupled to a patient or otherwise utilized in the convention of patient monitoring within the field of medicine.

The electrical cord 38 is wrapped around the spool 12 when the motor 24 rotates the spool 12 in the retracting direction. The free end 42 of the electrical cord 38 is positioned proximate the article of medical equipment 20 after the electrical cord 38 is wrapped around the spool 12. The electrical cord 38 does not pose a tripping hazard when the article of medical equipment 20 is not in use. Additionally, the electrical cord 38 is protected from damage when the article of medical equipment 20 is not in use. The electrical cord 38 may be drawn outwardly from the spool 12 when the motor 24 is de-actuated. The free end 42 of the electrical cord 38 is positionable a distance away from the article of medical equipment 20.

In use, a method 46 of storing the electrical cord 38 in the article of medical equipment 20 includes a step 48 of providing the spool 12 rotatably coupled to the article of medical equipment 20, the motor 24 coupled to the spool 12, the pair of actuators 32 electrically coupled to the motor 24 and the electrical cord 38 that has the coupled end 40 and the free end 42. The method 46 further includes a step 50 of actuating the first actuator 34 so the motor 28 allows the spool 12 to freely rotate in the dispensing direction. The free end 42 of the electrical cord 38 is positionable a distance away from the article of medical equipment 20. Finally, the method 46 includes a step 52 of actuating the second actuator 36 so the motor 24 rotates the spool 12 in the retracting direction. The electrical cord 38 is wrapped around the spool 12. The free end 42 of the electrical cord 38 is positioned proximate the article of medical equipment 20.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A cord storage assembly for retracting an electrical cord when said electrical cord is not in use, said assembly comprising:

a spool movably coupled to an article of medical equipment;
a motor coupled to said spool such that said motor moves said spool;
an actuator coupled to the article of medical equipment, said actuator being operationally coupled to said motor such that said actuator actuates said motor;
said electrical cord being coupled to said spool, said electrical cord extending outwardly from the article of medical equipment;
said spool releasing said electrical cord such that said electrical cord is extendable away from the article of medical equipment; and
said spool retracting said electrical cord into the article of medical equipment such that said electrical cord does not pose a tripping hazard when the article of medical equipment is not in use.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said spool having an outer surface extending between each of a first end and a second end of said spool, said outer surface of said spool being curvilinear such that said spool has a cylindrical shape.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said spool being rotatably coupled to the article of medical equipment such that said spool is positioned within an interior of the article of medical equipment.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said motor being coupled to a first end of said spool such that said motor rotates said spool in a dispensing direction and a retracting direction.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said motor being electrically coupled to a power supply in the article of medical equipment.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said electrical cord having a coupled end and a free end, said coupled end of said electrical cord being coupled to an outer surface of said spool.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said electrical cord being wrapped around said spool when said motor rotates said spool in a retracting direction such that a free end of said electrical cord is positioned proximate the article of medical equipment.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said electrical cord being released from said spool when said motor rotates said spool in a dispensing direction such that a free end of said electrical cord is positionable a distance away from the article of medical equipment.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said actuator being coupled to a front side of the article of medical equipment.

10. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising said actuator being electrically coupled to said motor.

11. A cord storage assembly for retracting an electrical cord when said electrical cord is not in use, said assembly comprising:

a spool having an outer surface extending between each of a first end and a second end of said spool, said outer surface of said spool being curvilinear such that said spool has a cylindrical shape, said spool being rotatably coupled to the article of medical equipment such that said spool is positioned within an interior of the article of medical equipment;
a motor coupled to said first end of said spool such that said motor rotates said spool in a dispensing direction and a retracting direction, said motor being electrically coupled to a power supply in the article of medical equipment;
an actuator coupled to a front side of the article of medical equipment, said actuator being electrically coupled to said motor such that said actuator actuates said motor;
an electrical cord having a coupled end and a free end, said coupled end of said electrical cord being coupled to said outer surface of said spool such that said electrical cord extends outwardly from the article of medical equipment;
said electrical cord being wrapped around said spool when said motor rotates said spool in a retracting direction having said free end of said electrical cord being positioned proximate the article of medical equipment such that said electrical cord does not pose a tripping hazard when the article of medical equipment is not in use; and
said electrical cord being released from said spool when said motor rotates said spool in a dispensing direction such that said free end of said electrical cord is positionable a distance away from the article of medical equipment.

12. A method of storing said electrical cord in the article of medical equipment, the steps of the method comprising:

a step of providing said spool rotatably coupled to the article of medical equipment, said motor coupled to said spool, said actuator electrically coupled to said motor and said electrical cord having said coupled end and said free end;
a step of actuating said actuator having said motor rotating said spool in a dispensing direction such that said free end of said electrical cord is positionable a distance away from the article of medical equipment; and
a step of actuating said actuator having said motor rotating said spool in a retracting direction such that said electrical cord is wrapped around said spool, said free end of said electrical cord being positioned proximate the article of medical equipment.
Patent History
Publication number: 20150329314
Type: Application
Filed: May 16, 2014
Publication Date: Nov 19, 2015
Inventor: Marlene Davis (Indianapolis, IN)
Application Number: 14/279,555
Classifications
International Classification: B65H 75/44 (20060101);