With Connector Plug Or Receptacle Patents (Class 191/12.4)
  • Patent number: 9469499
    Abstract: A retractable cable combined with a smartphone/tablet holder contains: a roller and a removable support connected with the roller, and the roller includes a casing, a rotatable disc, a spiral torsion spring, and a data transfer cable. The casing includes a first cover and a second cover which are connected together to define an accommodation space so as to house the rotatable disc in which the spiral torsion spring is fixed, and the data transfer cable inserts through and rolls on the rotatable disc. A USB plug of the data transfer cable is accommodated beside a connecting piece of the first cover, and a terminal portion of the data transfer cable is housed on a second joining sheet of the second cover. Preferably, the terminal portion of the data transfer cable matches with a USB slot of a smartphone or a tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Inventor: Huei-Mei Chen
  • Patent number: 9463701
    Abstract: An exemplary assembly includes a cord and a lockable charger housing, which has a surface that is shaped to correspond with a shape of a portion of an electrified vehicle. An exemplary method includes positioning a surface of a lockable charger housing against a portion of an electrified vehicle. The surface has a shape corresponding to a shape of a portion of the electrified vehicle. The method includes securing the lockable charger housing relative to the portion after the positioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohannad Hakeem, Eid Farha
  • Patent number: 9397489
    Abstract: A housing has a front panel, a rear panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, and side panels. Openings are formed in the front panel. A plurality of chambers are in the housing. Each chamber is in communication with an associated opening. Each of a plurality of divider plates has a support surface within an associated chamber. A spool is rotatably supported in each chamber. Each spool has an electrical outlet rotatable with the spool. A drive assembly includes a motor within each chamber. Each motor is coupled to an associated spool. In this manner the spool is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventor: Michael John Broker, III
  • Patent number: 9260023
    Abstract: A cable winding device is provided, around which a cable unit is wound that includes a first connector, a first cable connected to the first connector, and a control unit connected to the first cable and controlling an amount of a current flowing through the first cable. The cable winding device includes a fixing portion, a rotating portion provided rotatably with respect to the fixing portion. The rotating portion includes a tube portion having an outer circumferential surface around which the first cable is wound, and a first holding portion provided within the tube portion and holding the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Ono
  • Patent number: 9238416
    Abstract: A battery charging assembly includes a load management system, a charging cord with a battery connector, and circuitry for detecting cord removal or damage. The load management system monitors the heat buildup in a coiled portion of the charging cord and issues a corresponding signal to control the current flowing through the cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Telefonix, Incorporated
    Inventors: John William Alford, Frank Michael Ray, Richard Unetich, Peter Raul Veiga
  • Patent number: 9225128
    Abstract: Extension socket (8) with cord storage and dispensing system. Socket (8) comprises a housing (9) with upper housing (10) lower housing (20), a wiring and contact mechanisms lower housing (20) by which pins of a plug make electrical contacts with socket unit (18), an electrical plug (50) and cable cord (40) connecting the wiring and contact mechanisms within the housing (9) when upper housing (10) and lower housing (20) are coupled together, a receiving track (30) is formed between the walls of the upper housing; upper housing (10) has outlet port (36, 37) for cable cord (40) the bottom plate (21) of lower housing (20) has spaced apart projecting blocks with a passage (38 FIG. 4). Retainer (32) included to hold the cable cord in place in receiving track and/or the passage (38) between two adjacent projecting blocks (33).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventor: Wang Han Yap
  • Patent number: 9166346
    Abstract: A retractable interconnect device is configurable to operate in an extended mode or a retracted mode. The retractable interconnect device includes a first (e.g., short) electrical path and a second (e.g., long) electrical path. The retractable interconnect device also includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the first electrical path in the retracted mode and that is electrically coupled to the second electrical path in the extended mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Darcy Berger, John R. Dangler, Matthew S. Doyle, Jesse Hefner, Thomas W. Liang
  • Patent number: 9138902
    Abstract: A robot includes a base; a swivel unit rotatably arranged on the base; a lower arm having a base end portion, a tip end portion and a side surface, the base end portion rotatably supported on the swivel unit to enable the lower arm to swing in a front-rear direction; and first and second cable bundles arranged on the side surface of the lower arm to extend along a longitudinal direction of the lower arm. The robot further includes a cable bundle support mechanism including a guide unit for supporting the first and second cable bundles to move in the longitudinal direction of the lower arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA YASKAWA DENKI
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Suzuki, Ryuta Kagawa, Takashi Sanada
  • Patent number: 9120641
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charger includes: a first winder unit and a second winder unit for winding and holding a charging cable having a charging connector at its end portion; and a body unit for arranges the first winder unit and the second winder unit with the distance between the first winder unit and the second winder unit set longer than the diameter of the charging cable, wherein the charging cable passes between the first winder unit and the second winder unit, and the charging cable is fixed before passing between the first winder unit and the second winder unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki, Nitto Kogyo Corporation
    Inventors: Takahide Iida, Masakatsu Sakuda, Youichi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9057860
    Abstract: A fiber optic telecommunications device includes an enclosure defining an interior. A first fiber optic adapter is provided at the enclosure. A spool is provided at an exterior of the enclosure. A fiber optic cable, which includes a first optical fiber, is wrapped around the spool. A first fiber optic connector is mounted at a first end of the first optical fiber. The first end of the first optical fiber is positioned within the interior of the enclosure. The first fiber optic connector is inserted within the first fiber optic adapter. The enclosure and the spool are configured to rotate in unison about a common axis when the fiber optic cable is unwound from the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott C. Kowalczyk, Trevor D. Smith, Jonathan R. Kaml, Thomas G. LeBlanc, Ronald A. Beck
  • Patent number: 9038795
    Abstract: A cord storage apparatus includes an electric motor configured to retract a power reception cord to be connected to an external power supply and a control unit configured to determine whether or not the power reception cord is retracted away from the ground when the power reception cord is connected to the external power supply and control the electric motor to stop retracting the power reception cord when the power reception cord is retracted away from the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9013071
    Abstract: A power cord management system for managing flexible electrical power cords associated with hair or bathroom handheld appliances includes a power cord storage body. A pair of spaced apart cord wrapping elements are coupled to the power storage body about which the flexible electrical power cord may be wrapped for storage. At least one of the cord wrapping elements is movable between a storage and release position. The cord wrapping elements are configured to retain the wrapped power cord upon the power cord storage body when the at least one of the cord wrapping elements is in the storage position and wherein the wrapped power cord may be removed from the power cord storage body without unwrapping the wrapped power cord when the at least one of the cord wrapping elements is moved to the release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Natalie Levi
  • Patent number: 8960392
    Abstract: A hybrid car is a vehicle capable of being externally charged through a charging cable. The hybrid car includes a front door opened and closed when an occupant gets into and out of a vehicle cabin, and a cable reel mounted within the front door for taking up the charging cable. The front door has a resin portion located above the cable reel. A pull-out opening directed to the resin portion for pulling out the charging cable is formed in the cable reel. A take-out opening for taking out the charging cable pulled out from the pull-out opening from the front door to outside of the vehicle is formed in the resin portion. This configuration can improve workability during charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20140339039
    Abstract: A cable winding device is provided, around which a cable unit is wound that includes a first connector, a first cable connected to the first connector, and a control unit connected to the first cable and controlling an amount of a current flowing through the first cable. The cable winding device includes a fixing portion, a rotating portion provided rotatably with respect to the fixing portion. The rotating portion includes a tube portion having an outer circumferential surface around which the first cable is wound, and a first holding portion provided within the tube portion and holding the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoya Ono
  • Patent number: 8876560
    Abstract: A cable reel assembly comprises a hub configured to house a field communication distribution box with front and rear flanges projecting radially outward from front and rear edges of the hub. A cable receiving trough is formed between the flanges in which a communications cable may be wound. A nesting ring which is smaller in diameter that the front and rear flanges projects outward from the second flange. The nesting ring of a first cable reel assembly is positionable within an area surrounded by the first flange of a second cable reel to facilitate stacking of the cable reels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: DT Search and Designs, LLC
    Inventors: Alvin Dean Thompson, Cecil Donald Comley, John Jeffrey Comley, James Michael Comley
  • Publication number: 20140311849
    Abstract: A cable housing apparatus disclosed in the present specification can house a charging cable serving as standard equipment in a trunk room in an organized state without a troublesome task. This cable housing apparatus houses a charging cable having a charging connector provided in one end, a plug provided in the other end, and a CCID provided between the charging connector and the plug. The cable housing apparatus has a holder, and a reel detachably attached to the holder. The reel has an outer peripheral surface on which the charging cable is capable of being wound, and a holding part capable of holding the CCID.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: CHUO HATSUJO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Iwami, Eiji Mizuno, Yuichi Hirata
  • Publication number: 20140262665
    Abstract: A license plate electrical cord winding apparatus with a housing, an inner cavity, a generally cylindrical spindle affixed to said housing within said inner cavity, a reel assembly mounted to the housing within the inner cavity circumferentially about the spindle. There is also an urging member connected to the reel assembly, and an extension cord, wound around the reel assembly. A guiding roller mounted within the inner cavity guides the cord as it winds or unwinds about the reel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Vincent Leon Giles
  • Patent number: 8810076
    Abstract: An appliance holder system for electrical handheld appliances of the type having a flexible electrical power cord attached thereto is provided. The appliance holder system includes an appliance holder assembly having at least one receptacle for receiving and storing at least one electrical handheld appliance having a flexible electrical power cord attached thereto. A power cord storage assembly of the system has a pair of spaced apart cord wrapping elements about which the flexible electrical power cord may be wrapped for storage. At least one of the cord wrapping elements is movable between a storage and release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Natalie Levi
  • Patent number: 8800907
    Abstract: A mobile device case includes a reel assembly, including a reel, a supporting plate, and a hub between the reel and the supporting plate. The hub includes a first cavity between the hub and the supporting plate for housing a spring, and a second cavity between the hub and the reel for housing a flat flexible cable (FFC). The spring is wound in a first direction, while the FFC is wound in a second direction. The FFC includes a first end for electrically coupling to a female jack connector of a device. A female connector is electrically coupled to a second end of the FFC for engaging a male jack connector of user-provided headphones. When the reel rotates in the first direction, the spring tightens and the FFC loosens. When the reel rotates in the second direction, the spring loosens and the FFC tightens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventors: Scott Koenig, David Conroy
  • Patent number: 8776968
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a cable reel axle shaft is configured with a mounting member and an encased rotary coupling. In particular, a first end of the axle shaft at the mounting member comprises a stationary radio frequency (RF) connection (e.g., a stator), and another end of the axle shaft comprises a rotating RF connection (e.g., a rotor). The rotor-stator break may then be located within the axle shaft, illustratively within the member. In this manner, a rotary coupling is extended and integrated into the center of the structural axle shaft for the cable reel, such that an RF connection may be maintained throughout adjustment of an accompanying variable-length RF antenna while efficiently handling the changes in required RF cable length. This provides numerous benefits over individual components, such as decreased size and weight, increased RF performance, greater survivability, and ease of operation (e.g., to spool and unspool an RF cable).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: John P. Higby
  • Patent number: 8737026
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging cord set includes a housing containing an interrupting device therein and a first cord provided at one end with a plug connectable to an outlet installed on a wall surface of a building and at the other end connected to one of the terminal units of the interrupting device. An electric vehicle charging cord set further includes a second cord provided at one end with a connector connectable to an inlet of an electric vehicle and at the other end connected to the other of the terminal units of the interrupting device. The housing includes a storage unit for extendibly storing the second cord, a stand for placing the housing on a ground surface and a transportation handle. The storage unit includes a drum rotatably attached to the housing. The second cord is wound on the outer circumferential surface of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Ueno, Youji Minami, Tatsuya Mukai, Kiyoshi Goto, Shiro Mori, Hirotoshi Watanabe, Tomoyoshi Hayashi, Yutaka Takada, Hiroshi Ooya, Kouji Kakiuchi
  • Patent number: 8545260
    Abstract: A base is capable of containing a data cable, the data cable having a first plug, a second plug and a transmitting wire connecting the first plug and the second plug. The base includes a housing defining an opening; and a receiving member and a winding member positioned on the inner surface of the housing. The first plug is capable of protruding out of the housing via the opening, the transmitting wire is capable of being wound around the winding member, and the second plug is capable of being received in the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cong-Bing Zhou, Tai-Shan Zhu
  • Patent number: 8544623
    Abstract: An organizing system for an electrical clipper having a housing with side walls, a top and bottom surface, and an inner cavity, the top surface is removably attached to a side wall via an attachment means, a spring-loaded cord spool in the inner cavity having an axle around which a cord of a clipper can be wrapped and rotates to wind or unwind the cord, a bottom end of the axle removably engages a spool mounting component in the bottom surface of the housing, a cord slot allowing a cord of a clipper to penetrate the housing in a side wall, a release button on a top end of the axle protrudes through a hole in the top surface and is pressed to wind the cord of the clipper, and a power strip in the inner cavity of the housing has a cord that protrudes through the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Inventor: Ramon R. Murphy
  • Patent number: 8525476
    Abstract: A connecting device includes: a shaft; a drum that has a container defined therein and is rotatably disposed on the shaft; a stator that is fixed to the shaft and is contained inside of the container; a rotator that is fixed to the drum, is rotatably disposed on the shaft, and is contained inside of the container with an interval with respect to the stator; first terminals that are disposed in the stator; second terminals that are disposed in the rotator and are brought into contact with the first terminals, respectively; a connecting cord that is wound around the drum, and has a connecting plug to be connected to a vehicle at one end thereof whereas is electrically connected to the second terminals at the other end thereof; a power supply cord having a power source plug electrically connected to the first terminals at one end thereof whereas connected to an outside power supply at the other end thereof; and a leakage detector contained inside of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 8375507
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner having a detachable cord reel unit is provided. The vacuum cleaner includes a main body, a brush assembly connected to the main body and, a cord reel unit attachable to and detachable from a discharging portion of the main body, the cord reel unit comprising a power cord and a cooling fan formed therein, wherein the cooling fan stops driving automatically when the cord reel unit is mounted in the main body, and the cooling fan starts driving automatically to cool the power cord when the cord reel unit is detached from the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Jo Lee, See-hyun Kim, Jang-keun Oh
  • Patent number: 8376103
    Abstract: A cable management system for use with electrical devices, such as, for example, a ultrasound imaging system, is provided comprising a rotatable reel coupled to an end of each of an elongated flexible circuit member and an elongated cable. Each of a plurality of wires of the cable is electrically coupled to a respective conductor of the flexible circuit member to create separate conductive paths or signal channels. The cable management system is configured such that, as the cable moves from a generally retracted configuration in which a majority of the cable is wound about the reel to a generally extended configuration, the flexible circuit member simultaneously contracts about the reel. As a corollary, the flexible circuit member relaxes or unwinds as the cable moves from the extended configuration towards the retracted configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: SonoSite, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley J. Sliger
  • Patent number: 8365887
    Abstract: A retraction apparatus comprising a support housing comprising one or more generally cylindrical spindles, and a retraction assembly mounted on each of the spindles is provided. The retraction assembly comprises a spring member, a generally cylindrical spool member, a retractable cable, a latch member, and a contact wheel member. The spring member is mounted on each of the spindles and affixed to the support housing. The spool member comprising serrated plates is affixed to the spring member. The retractable cable is circularly wound around a cylindrical section defined between the serrated plates of the spool member and extends outwardly from the support housing. The latch member, in engageable communication with the spool member, controls rotation of the spool member. The contact wheel member, in engageable communication with the spool member, via selective drive mechanisms, is rotated to rotate the spool member for retracting the retractable cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fischer Consumer Electronics
    Inventor: Daniel Gerard Fischer
  • Patent number: 8324860
    Abstract: The distributed charging system is for charging an energy storage device of an electrical vehicle operated within an operation region where a number of station or parking areas are arranged at intervals. The system contains a plurality of charging stations and fast charging devices where a charging station is provided at each station or parking area and at least a fast charging device is provided at each charging station. When the electrical vehicle is parked at a station or parking area, the electrical vehicle's energy storage device is quickly charged by the fast charging device there. Therefore, there is no additional and dedicated time spent for charging while the capacity, cost, weight, and size of the energy storage device could be reduced, making the electrical vehicle less costly, more compact, and with more extended operation time and distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: EVP Technology LLC USA
    Inventors: James Young, Yaw-Chung Cheng, Hao-Chung Chang
  • Publication number: 20120111681
    Abstract: A device and a method for powering a berthed ship. The powering device includes an onboard connector, a shuttle (40), a traction element (41) for the shuttle, which includes elements for engaging with a ground connector (30) matching the onboard connector, the traction element being provided for pulling the shuttle and the ground connector when they are engaged such that the ground connector is in electrical continuity with the onboard connector. The device can be used for powering a ship without running the onboard generators thereof. For methane tankers in particular, the device can be used for supplying electricity to the grid by burning the gas vapors. The device can be automated, thereby avoiding fatigue and electrical risks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: NEW GENERATION NATURAL GAS
    Inventor: Damien Feger
  • Publication number: 20110198177
    Abstract: Electric cord reel with a reel, a crank and handle, a reel support structure, a base structure, a guide aperture and a cord and plug retaining tube the reel is rotatably attached to the reel support structure The handle fixedly attached to the pivot point of the reel wall. The support structure is fixedly attached to the base structure. The guide aperture fixedly attached to the base structure so that it is in alignment with the spool portion of the reel. The cord and plug retaining tube is removably attached to left and right apertures in the walls of the reel. A standard extension cord portion and plug can be removably retained within the cord and plug retaining tube. A preferred embodiment includes the base structure having a plurality of downwardly facing legs that help keep the structure from sliding when a user pulls on the electric cord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventor: John Hall
  • Patent number: 7984798
    Abstract: Electric cord reel with a reel, a crank and handle, a reel support structure, a base structure, a guide aperture and a cord and plug retaining tube the reel is rotatably attached to the reel support structure. The handle fixedly attached to the pivot point of the reel wall. The support structure is fixedly attached to the base structure. The guide aperture fixedly attached to the base structure so that it is in alignment with the spool portion of the reel. The cord and plug retaining tube is removably attached to left and right apertures in the walls of the reel. A standard extension cord portion and plug can be removably retained within the cord and plug retaining tube. A preferred embodiment includes the base structure having a plurality of downwardly facing legs that help keep the structure from sliding when a user pulls on the electric cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Inventor: John Hall
  • Publication number: 20110149455
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging cord set includes a housing containing an interrupting device therein and a first cord provided at one end with a plug connectable to an outlet installed on a wall surface of a building and at the other end connected to one of the terminal units of the interrupting device. An electric vehicle charging cord set further includes a second cord provided at one end with a connector connectable to an inlet of an electric vehicle and at the other end connected to the other of the terminal units of the interrupting device. The housing includes a storage unit for extendibly storing the second cord, a stand for placing the housing on a ground surface and a transportation handle. The storage unit includes a drum rotatably attached to the housing. The second cord is wound on the outer circumferential surface of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Panasonic Electric Works Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Satoru Ueno, Youji Minami, Tatsuya Mukai, Kiyoshi Goto, Shiro Mori, Hirotoshi Watanabe, Tomoyoshi Hayashi, Yutaka Takada
  • Patent number: 7900759
    Abstract: Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for providing a cord retraction mechanism for an input device. A subassembly having an input device, a cable, and a retraction mechanism is provided. The cable has first and second opposing ends, with the first end being operable to be coupled to a computing device, and the second end being operable to be coupled to the input device. The cable provides an electrical communication between the computing device and the input device. The cable has an extended configuration and a storage configuration. In the extended configuration, the cable extends outwardly from the computing device. In the storage configuration, the majority of the cable is in a substantially linear orientation. The retraction mechanism has at least one pulley member for displacing the pulley member between first and second positions to allow the cable to move from the storage configuration to the extended configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Sung H Kim, Russell C Mead, Jr., Lawrence E Davis
  • Publication number: 20110036676
    Abstract: A cable spool that has a body including a perimeter façade. An opening extends a thickness of the body. A track structure is formed with the perimeter façade to retain a cable. The opening is dimensioned to retain a terminal that connects to one end of the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Skillman
  • Patent number: 7874411
    Abstract: A cable assembly reel including a drum defining an exterior surface for receiving a length of wound cable and including at least one access panel therein for providing access to an interior cavity, and at least one flange removably attached to the drum defining an opening therethrough for receiving an axle. A cable reel for maintaining at least one cable of a cable assembly around the exterior surface of the reel and defining an interior cavity for maintaining attached hardware of the cable assembly separate from the at least one cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Reginald Roberts, Joseph C. Jensen, Gerry J. Harvey
  • Patent number: 7845974
    Abstract: A power strip is provided. The power strip includes a first power cord to receive an input of electricity. The power strip also includes a housing including a plurality of socket modules for receiving electrical plugs. At least one socket module is removably attached to the housing and includes a second power cord connect to the first power cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chuang Yue, Ji-Ying Jin, En-Long Hao, Qiang Zhang, Lie Zhang, Hong-Yi Tao
  • Patent number: 7758376
    Abstract: An electrical power apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprises: a housing comprising a top portion, a bottom portion and side walls creating an external surface generally perpendicular to said top and bottom portions and an internal cavity, said housing having at least one slot situated at the top portion and at least one indentation situated on said side walls, the indentation is situated adjacent to the slot; and at least one socket component connected to an extendable cord, the socket component is situated within the indentation of the housing at a first position generally perpendicular to the top or bottom portion of the housing and moveable to the slot of the housing at a second position generally parallel to the top or bottom portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Inventors: Mina Hwang, Dan M. DeLaRosa
  • Publication number: 20100096486
    Abstract: A cable winding device includes a top cover mounted to a bottom cover to interpose therebetween a rotary cable winding hub that defines between top and bottom frames a circumferential slot for winding up a cable therein. The top frame forms a space receiving therein a roll-up spring that provides a biasing force to the cable winding hub for winding up the cable. The bottom frame forms a recess fit over a raised fixing base extending from the bottom cover and forming multiple tracks that have a stop end for cooperating a limiting groove defined in the fixing base to properly retain the cable winding hub for each turn of rotation of the cable winding hub in extending the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventor: Hsien-Lin Yang
  • Publication number: 20100084236
    Abstract: A power adaptor includes a top cover mounted to a bottom cover to interpose therebetween a rotary cable winding hub defined between top and bottom frames and forming a circumferential slot for winding up a cable therein. The top frame forms a space receiving therein a roll-up spring that provides a biasing force to the cable winding hub for winding up the cable. The bottom frame forms a recess fit over a raised fixing base extending from the bottom cover and forming multiple tracks each forming a stop terminal for properly retaining the cable winding hub for each turn of rotation of the cable winding hub in extending the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventor: HSIEN-LIN YANG
  • Publication number: 20100072013
    Abstract: A retractable electrical cord reel for an appliance wherein the cord reel is not internally-housed within the appliance. The retractable cord reel comprises reel housing, electrical plug, electrical cord, a spool assembly, which includes a spring, for winding and unwinding the electrical cord, a latching system, and contact rings or shafts to electrically connect the plug to the electrical cord. The contact rings are connected to floating contacts, which are in turn connected to the electrical plug. The contact rings are further connected to the electrical cord, thus connecting the electrical plug to the electrical cord.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: CONAIR CORPORATION
    Inventor: VITO JAMES CARLUCCI
  • Publication number: 20090194630
    Abstract: A winding case of a storage unit includes a spool-like element for winding thereabout a cable interconnecting an audio jack and a pair of ear buds. A housing extending from the winding case retains the junction between the cable and the pair of conductors connected to the pair of ear buds. A lid hingedly attached to the housing permits insertion and removal of the junction. A further lid hingedly attached to the winding case permits insertion of the cable, winding of the cable about the spool-like element to reduce the operable length of cable and removal of the cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventor: Senthil Thiyagarajan
  • Publication number: 20090127048
    Abstract: An apparatus for coupling power from shore power to a rubber tire gantry (RTG) crane comprises a power junction trolley and optionally an RTG crane. The power junction trolley receives power through a high voltage cable or alternatively through an inductive power coupling and alternatively outputs a low AC or a low DC voltage through a flexible power cable for connection to an RTG crane. A guiding apparatus directs the power junction trolley along a selected path so as to reduce a control accuracy requirement for the RTG crane. The RTG crane may move from a selected path to another selected path without interrupting a high voltage connection. The power junction trolley optionally determines its position relative to a selected path comprising a guide rail in some embodiments and a guide wire in others. Embodiments of the power junction trolley are alternately self-propelled or towed by the RTG crane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventor: Kinya Ichimura
  • Publication number: 20090107789
    Abstract: A reel device of diversion joint comprises: a body, a reel-shaft part, a telegraph line, a conduct-surface body and two conduct-acting parts. The body has a shaft and a groove hole. The reel-shaft part is located on said shaft. The telegraph line has a joint at least one end, a part of said telegraph line is near by said reel-shaft part around. The conduct-surface body is located on said reel-shaft part, and has a conduct groove and at least one locating hole. Two conduct-acting parts are located on said groove hole and two sides of said shaft, has at least one conduct body on said conduct groove. When said joint used a liner motion, said reel-shaft part used said shaft to rotate; said joint is fixed on a position when said conduct body in said locating hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventor: Hsu-Jui Huang
  • Publication number: 20090090589
    Abstract: A reel assembly includes an electrical cord, and a reel encased within a housing and capable of winding and unwinding the electrical cord. A power connector electrically couples one end of the electrical cord to a power source, such as a vehicle's cigarette lighter receptacle or 12 volt accessory power outlet. A powered device, such as a lamp, or flashlight, may be electrically coupled to an intermediate connector at the other end of the electrical cord. Connectors coupled to the electrical cord are removably attachable to the housing of the reel assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: CUSTOM ACCESSORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Norman L. Matthew, Vincent Alesi
  • Patent number: 7510426
    Abstract: An electrical power apparatus is provided, the apparatus comprises: a housing comprising a top portion, a bottom portion and side walls, the housing having at least one indentation situated at the top portion and a slot situated on the side wall; and at least one socket component connected to a retractable cord, the socket component being situated within the indentation of the housing at a first position perpendicular to the bottom portion of the housing and moveable to the slot of the housing at a second position parallel to the bottom portion of the housing, and at a third position wherein the cord is extended and there is a distance between the socket component and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Inventors: Mina Hwang, Dan M. DeLaRosa
  • Publication number: 20090057085
    Abstract: A reel includes a reel drum enclosed within a housing comprising a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a middle housing portion positioned therebetween. A spindle member has a first end connected to the first housing portion and a second end connected to the second housing portion. The spindle member extends through an opening in the drum so that the drum is rotatable about a spindle axis defined by the spindle member. The middle housing portion encircles the drum and has an aperture through which linear material can extend, the linear material of a type that may be spooled on the drum. The middle housing portion is rotatable about the spindle axis independently of the drum. In preferred embodiments, the reel is a cord reel and the linear material is electrical cord. In preferred embodiments, the middle housing portion is rotatable at least 360° about the spindle axis. In preferred embodiments, the drum is powered by an electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: GREAT STUFF, INC.
    Inventors: Ramon A. Caamano, Christian Okonsky Gerard, Nicholas H. Anderson, Christopher A. Cogburn, James B.A. Tracey
  • Patent number: 7438258
    Abstract: A reel device includes a spool unit and a handle unit. The spool unit includes a tubular winding body and a pair of first and second flanges. The winding body has opposite first and second open ends, each of which has a peripheral edge. Each of the first and second flanges extends radially and outwardly from the peripheral edge of a respective one of the first and second open ends of the winding body. The handle unit is disposed in and is coupled rotatably to the winding body. The spool unit is rotatable relative to the handle unit in a first angular direction, and in a second angular direction opposite to the first angular direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Inventor: Chi-Wen Chen
  • Publication number: 20080210507
    Abstract: An electrical system comprises a housing containing a reel for an extension cord. The extension cord has cord station(s) along its length and a terminal outlet at one end. A detachable outlet can be plugged into a cord station, providing an electrical socket at the cord station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Inventor: Drew Arthur Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080096493
    Abstract: A communication device for rock climbers and the like is provided. The communication device comprises an outer casing and a plastic insert mounted within the outer casing. Communication electronics are mounted within the plastic insert. An earbud is connected to the communication electronics and seatable in an opening in the outer casing with the earbud having an easy grab protrusion extending beyond the opening. A retraction mechanism connects the earbud for extending and retracting the earbud into the opening. A releasable closure mechanism is secured to the outer casing for securing the communication device to, and releasing the communication from, an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventor: Jason Kerwood
  • Patent number: H2226
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of portable electronic devices, such as computer mice, which have structures for temporarily storing a cable and/or electrical connector between uses. Some embodiments include structures and/or mechanisms for releasably attaching the electrical connector with a computer mouse or other peripheral device. Some embodiments may also include a storage mechanism for storing at least a portion of the cable. The storage mechanism may comprise a cable winding mechanism. Thus, the cable and electrical connector of the device may be conveniently stored for travel and/or between uses. In some embodiments designed for use in connection with optical mice, the device may also be configured such that an optical component window is covered while the cable and/or electrical connector are being temporarily stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Targus Group International, Inc.
    Inventor: Sharon Pi