Manually Operated Patents (Class 242/381.3)
  • Patent number: 12209856
    Abstract: A tool, such as a tape measure, including a spring-based retraction system is shown. The retraction system includes a spiral spring that is located outside of and adjacent to a tape reel about which a tape blade is wound. This arrangement provides for a decreased housing height which improves the ability to grip and handle the tape measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan F. Vitas
  • Patent number: 12152874
    Abstract: A tape measure comprises a housing containing a tape, spring, reel, and hub, with first seal(s) to seal between the reel cartridge and the hub and/or to seal between the reel and the housing and/or a part fixed to the housing. An outermost coil of the spring may extend out of an opening in the reel and be attached to an innermost coil of the tape, and a second seal may be provided on the reel, to seal between the spring and the reel where the spring extends from the reel. Alternatively, the spring may be contained within the reel, and an outermost coil of the spring may be attached to an interior of the reel. An exterior of the reel may include an attachment portion to which an innermost coil of the tape is attached. The housing may be openable to enable contaminants to be removed from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiao-Ting Wen, Yo-Wen Hsiao, Chirag Kamani, Daniel R. Seymour, Hui-Ting You
  • Patent number: 12123527
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an operation switch, including a housing, an end cap, a slider, a sliding pin and a positioning pin. The housing has a housing opening on one side of the housing away from the end cap. The slider has a slider stop plate extending out from the housing opening. The end cap has a guide sliding chute. The sliding pin is in clearance fit with the guide sliding chute. The guide sliding chute has a lower positioning recess and an upper positioning recess. The end cap has a guide ramp below the guide sliding chute, and an end of the positioning pin slidably contacts or touches the guide ramp. The present disclosure also discloses a pull-out control mechanism, including a housing; a hose/cord clamping wheel set including a first rotating wheel and a second rotating wheel, both mounted in the housing; and a locking and releasing mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Beijing Kohler Ltd.
    Inventor: Guang Cheng
  • Patent number: 11945682
    Abstract: A lanyard having a locking mechanism is provided. The lanyard locking mechanism actuates between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position, the lanyard spool is restricted from rotating, and in the unlocked position, the lanyard spool is permitted to rotate with reduced interference from the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes biasing components that bias the locking mechanism to remain stationary unless sufficient force is exerted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander J. Paulsen, Andrew G. Wagner, Scott M. Hangartner
  • Patent number: 11913780
    Abstract: A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, a blade formed from a metallic strip of material having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly, and an anti-rollover assembly disposed proximate to the aperture. The blade may be cupped to have a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface. The blade may have a first side and a second side that oppose each other relative to an apex of the concave upper surface and the convex lower surface. The anti-rollover assembly may be configured to enable an operator to selectively flatten the first side or the second side of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Apex Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Kai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11668551
    Abstract: Disclosed is a measuring tape which comprises a housing, a reel received in the housing, and a blade wound on an outer surface of the reel and withdrawn or restored from an entrance of the housing, the measuring tape comprising: a finger recess formed through a bottom surface of the housing to expose a bottom surface of the blade; and a brake including a slide button exposed to the upper portion of the entrance, a brake plate slidely moving inside the housing depending on the movement of the slide button, and a brake port formed at an end of the brake plate to selectively press the upper surface of the blade, wherein the brake pork is positioned on the upper portion of the finger recess in a released state, and presses the upper surface of the blade by moving to the rear side of the finger recess in a locked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: KOMELON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dong Hun Kang, Nam Hoon Kang, Seok Jun An, Baek Cheon Shin
  • Patent number: 11644677
    Abstract: Disclosed is a hooking device of a VR data cable, configured to hang the VR data cable, including a buffer, a hang assembly, and an adjustment assembly. The buffer is hung on a hook of a ceiling. The hang assembly is configured to hang the VR data cable. One end of the adjustment assembly is connected to the buffer, and the other end of the adjustment assembly is connected to the hang assembly, and the adjustment assembly adjusts a hang height of the VR data cable through elastic expansion and contraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN HONGJIANTOU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Zhinan Zhang
  • Patent number: 11466969
    Abstract: Various aspects of tape measures with one or more of a sensor, a motor, and a clutch, are shown. The sensors described herein detect, through various mechanisms, the position of the retraction system of a tape measure. The measurements by the sensors may be used to control a motor to adjust an amount of tension in the spiral spring of a tape measure. In various embodiments a motor interacts with the retraction system of the tape measure via a clutch, which moderates an amount of force that the motor can communicate to the retraction system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
    Inventors: Gareth J. Mueckl, Scott Earl McKinster
  • Patent number: 11402192
    Abstract: A measuring tape device may include a housing having an aperture, a reel assembly enclosed within the housing, and a blade having a first end configured to extend from the housing through the aperture and a second end configured to be wound on the reel assembly. The housing may include a first case half and a second case half. The reel assembly may be configured to alternately allow the blade to be withdrawn from the reel assembly through the aperture or received in the aperture onto the reel assembly. The first case half and the second case half may be joined together via threaded fasteners inserted into respective portions of screw bosses formed in corresponding portions of the first and second case halves. Mating features may be provided on the first and second case halves to facilitate joining the first and second case halves. At least some of the mating features may be longer than others of the mating features, or a diameter of the screw bosses is about 1.5 time to about 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: APEX BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Adam Baxter, Jonathan Siebert Beckwith, Cecil Wilson, Vlad Patrangenaru
  • Patent number: 10791900
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes an upright body mounted to a base that moves over a surface to be cleaned. A rotational coupling can be provided between the upright body and the base for coupling the upright body to the base for movement about at least one rotational axis. The rotational coupling can include at least a swivel joint. A cord rewinder can be provided above the swivel joint for storing and dispensing a power cord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BISSELL Inc.
    Inventors: Phong Hoang Tran, Todd Richard VanTongeren
  • Patent number: 10429164
    Abstract: A tape measure structure is characterized in that an access opening of a housing assembly is configured with a flexible control element capable of being pressed to touch and stop a tape body movably installed inside the housing assembly, and a buffer for buffering the tape body is configured on one side of the flexible control element adjacent to the access opening. Whereby, the present invention can avoid the damage to the tape body, prevent the injury to users, and does not interfere hand feeling so as to make the operation convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: TOP LONG INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shao-Fan Kuo
  • Patent number: 9329013
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a reel ruler structure that includes a casing, a push element pivotally installed therein with an edge extended outside, a compressing element pivotally positioned inside the casing, a linkage pivotally connected with both the push element and the compressing element for a linked movement, and an elastic element installed in between the push element and the casing so as to enable the compressing element to secure a ruler. A pressing to the push element will release the ruler for a short period of time and a relief to the push element will reset the compressing element and the push element by the elastic element. An enhancement of both convenience and safety in operating the reel ruler is thus achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Top Long Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shao-Fan Kuo
  • Patent number: 9120403
    Abstract: A restraint harness assembly for a child safety seat includes a strap, an anchoring mechanism and a retractor mechanism. The anchoring mechanism includes a first release button operable to switch the anchoring mechanism from a locked to an unlocked state. The retractor mechanism includes a spool connected with the strap, and a second release button movable between a first and a second position for respectively unlocking and locking rotation of the spool in a direction for unwinding the strap. The first and second release buttons are engaged with each other when the anchoring mechanism is in the unlocked state and the second release button is in the first position. The first release button can disengage from the second release button when the anchoring mechanism is switched from the unlocked to the locked state, which allows the second release button to move from the first to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Wonderland Nurserygoods Company Limited
    Inventor: James M. F. Hutchinson
  • Patent number: 8953327
    Abstract: A device having a self-winding element is described. The self-winding element is built on a flexible membrane; it has an extended form and a retracted form. Stiffness in the extended form may be provided using membrane curvature, or a retractable support member may be used, or both. Transitions between the extended form and the retracted form are preferably accomplished using sequential activation of tensile members that are configured in segments of the membrane. Activation of the tensile elements is preferably implemented using a processor or controller that activates tri-state drivers in a predetermined sequence in order to pass a current through each element when heating is desired. A preferred material used for the tensile elements is thin film NITINOL.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: iBlaidZ, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter C. Salmon
  • Patent number: 7455034
    Abstract: Disclosed is a two-pet no-tangle retractable leash device including an axle having a rod opening and a first spool including a first leash and a second spool including a second leash rotatably mounted on the axle. Each leash has a proximal end attached to the spool and a distal end extending through one of two leash openings. Additionally, each spool has a spool brake element and a return spring, where a proximal end of the return spring is connected to the spool and a distal end of the return spring is connected to the axle. When a force is applied to pull on the leashes, the spools rotate thereby unwinding the return springs. When the force is removed, the return springs rewind forcing the spool to rewind the leash to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventor: Pietro DiDonato
  • Patent number: 7311134
    Abstract: A pulling cord winding apparatus for window shades includes an upper cap, a lower seat, two elastic take-up reels, two elastic coils, a brake member, and a push rod. The brake member has two arched pressing plates on two sides extended outwards to form respectively a cord pressing member which has second teeth on one side to engage with first teeth formed on cord clamping members on two outer sides of the housing compartment. When pushing the push rod, the brake member is moved and escapes to enable the two elastic take-up reels to rotate and brake. Through the arched pressing plates, cord pressing members and cord clamping members, pulling cords may be retracted smoothly without entangling or forming knobs. When the two elastic take-up reels retract the cords at the maximum force, the pulling cords do not slip, and the window shade may be extended and retracted as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Li-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 7263784
    Abstract: An enhanced structure for measuring tape, comprises a tape casing having a wheel disposed in its interior, a metal tape being wound around said wheel 11 and having a tail end fixedly connected to said wheel so as to generate elastic force to let said tape eject automatically from said tape casing when no braking force is applied; a press button pivotally connects to the top of said tape casing, said press button having a curved tooth face disposed at top of inner wall thereof, with said curved tooth face and a removable transmission element meshing with each other; and a driving element and a power receiving element mesh with each other and are disposed near said transmission element, wherein said power receiving element links with said wheel; a user can use one hand to eject the tape, when he/she wants to retract the tape, he/she can press said press button with the hand that holds the measuring tape to let said curved tooth face inside said press button to rotate downward for an angle, and then to drive sai
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Inventor: Shih-Lin Lee
  • Patent number: 7010865
    Abstract: A braking structure of measuring tape, including a housing, a tape rule contained in the housing and a braking mechanism, characterized in that: a push button is formed onto the housing, by pushing the push button into the housing to keep it at a lower position; a braking plate of the braking mechanism would effectively suspend the movement of the tape rule, and after that, if the push button is pushed downward again, the braking mechanism would push the push button upward and return to its higher position, and the braking plate of the braking mechanism would separate the tape rule and the movement of the tape rule would not be suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Index Measuring Tape Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Henry Lin
  • Patent number: 6860566
    Abstract: A spring loaded pay out arrangement for a seat harness securable to a seat, the seat harness being releasably connectable to an occupant harness configured to be worn by an occupant of the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Martin-Baker Aircraft Company, Limited
    Inventor: Steven Anthony George Ruff
  • Patent number: 6836975
    Abstract: A breaking structure of measuring tape, including a housing, a tape rule contained in the housing and a braking mechanism, characterized in that: a push button is formed onto the housing, by pushing the push button into the housing to keep it at a lower position; a braking plate of the braking mechanism would effectively suspend the movement of the tape rule, and after that, if the push button is pushed downward again, the braking mechanism would push the push button upward and return to its higher position, and the braking plate of the braking mechanism would separate the tape rule and the movement of the tape rule would not be suspended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Index Measuring Tape Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Henry Lin
  • Patent number: 6808138
    Abstract: A wire-winding box structure with an increased use area has a wire-winding box body, a wire-winding disk, a communication wire and a power spring. One end of the communication wire is wound around a wire-winding pivot of the wire-winding disk to form an inner ring portion. The other end of the communication wire is wound in a receiving groove to form an outer ring portion. The communication wire, can thus be disposed around the wire-winding pivot and in the receiving groove at two faces of a first disk body of the wire-winding disk, respectively. The power spring is received in a spring receiving groove of the wire-winding disk. One fastening end of the power spring is fastened at the wire-winding disk, and the other fastening end thereof is fastened at the wire-winding box body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Inventor: Sheng Hsin Liao
  • Patent number: 6760993
    Abstract: A recoil device (100) having a mounting member (101), a recoiling member (108), and a stopping member (117) is mounted onto an attachment surface (131) of an existing decoy (130) without compromising the structural integrity of the decoy (130). An anchor line (126) is operatively connected to the recoiling member (108) proximate the center (132) of the decoy (130) and is locked in place by the stopping member (117) proximate the front (133) of the decoy (130). The line (126) is locked in place when the stopping member (117) is in a first position, and the line (126) may be either drawn from the recoiling member (108) or automatically retracted by the recoiling member (108) when the stopping member (117) is in a second position (121b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Tyler John Lebens
  • Patent number: 6760979
    Abstract: A stop block device of a measuring tape includes a stop block button with an improved structure that displaces a latch bracket having stop block surfaces to press down on the measuring tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Inventor: Cheng-Hui Hsu
  • Publication number: 20040129820
    Abstract: A wire-winding box structure with an increased use area has a wire-winding box body, a wire-winding disk, a communication wire and a power spring. One end of the communication wire is wound around a wire-winding pivot of the wire-winding disk to form an inner ring portion. The other end of the communication wire is wound in a receiving groove to form an outer ring portion. The communication wire, can thus be disposed around the wire-winding pivot and in the receiving groove at two faces of a first disk body of the wire-winding disk, respectively. The power spring is received in a spring receiving groove of the wire-winding disk. One fastening end of the power spring is fastened at the wire-winding disk, and the other fastening end thereof is fastened at the wire-winding box body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Sheng Hsin Liao
  • Publication number: 20030141399
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tape locking device for tape measures. The tape locking device comprises a locking lever hinged to an upper portion of the wall of the housing in such a way to be rotated frontward and rearward around a hinged joint, and provided with a connecting piece downwardly extending from the locking lever. A cylinder is connected at its first end to a hole formed at the lower portion of the connecting piece, with a coil spring fitted over the cylinder. A wedge-shaped stopper is connected to the second end of the cylinder, and having a desired frictional force. This stopper is elastically biased by the coil spring to be wedged in the gap between the outer circumferential surface of a wound part of the tape around the bobbin and a linear part of the tape led to the slot when releasing the locking lever after drawing a desired length of tape from the slot, so the drawn tape is automatically locked by frictional contact between the stopper surface and the drawn tape surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventors: Dong-Hun Kang, Choi Young J.
  • Patent number: 6595451
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a tape locking device for tape measures. The tape locking device comprises a locking lever hinged to an upper portion of the wall of the housing in such a way to be rotated frontward and rearward around a hinged joint, and provided with a connecting piece downwardly extending from the locking lever. A cylinder is connected at its first end to a hole formed at the lower portion of the connecting piece, with a coil spring fitted over the cylinder. A wedge-shaped stopper is connected to the second end of the cylinder, and having a desired frictional force. This stopper is elastically biased by the coil spring to be wedged in the gap between the outer circumferential surface of a wound part of the tape around the bobbin and a linear part of the tape led to the slot when releasing the locking lever after drawing a desired length of tape from the slot, so the drawn tape is automatically locked by frictional contact between the stopper surface and the drawn tape surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Komelon Corporation
    Inventors: Dong-Hun Kang, Young J. Choi
  • Patent number: 6536698
    Abstract: A dual mode tape rule blade arrestor structure that provides for an effective increase in tape rule rewind buffering to prevent excessive blade retrieval speeds that generate high impact sheering forces. The arrestor button of the present invention is pressed upward to temporarily halt tape rule rewinding, but can at the same time also be pressed downward and locked into the full constraint position. As such, the improved structure of the invention herein enhances tape rule service life as well as operating safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventor: Cheng-Hui Hsu
  • Publication number: 20030042349
    Abstract: A breaking structure of measuring tape, including a housing, a tape rule contained in the housing and a braking mechanism, characterized in that: a push button is formed onto the housing, by pushing the push button into the housing to keep it at a lower position; a base stopper of the braking mechanism would effectively suspend the movement of the tape rule, and after that, if the push button is pushed downward again, the braking mechanism would push the push button upward and return to its higher position, then the base stopper of the braking mechanism would separate the tape rule and the movement of the tape rule would not be suspended.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: INDEX MEASURING TAPE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Henry Lin
  • Patent number: 6491248
    Abstract: A measuring tape has a check device for automatically preventing a ruler from rewinding. The check device is installed within the casing and positioned between a winding wheel and a ruler body. The check device comprises a rotary wheel formed by an elastic wheel and two ratchets; a guide block having stop blocks; a stop claw; a driven element installed between the press button and the stop claw; and a press. By above components, the ruler body can be installed between the elastic wheel and the guide block. As the ruler body is pulled out, it can be stopped automatically. Only after pressing the press button, the ruler body rewinds. Thereby, the user may operate it by only one hand not to worry about that the hand will be hurt due to the rewinding of the ruler body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Inventor: Simon Liu
  • Patent number: 6474585
    Abstract: A wire winding box with an increasing area includes a box body, a communication wire, a wire winding disk, and a spiral spring. The box body has a wire groove and a shaft. The wire winding disk has a first disk body. Two surfaces of the first disk body are installed with a receiving groove and a wire winding ring. The wire winding disk is placed in the receiving space of the box body. The wire winding disk is pivotally installed to the shaft through an axial hole. The communication wire is installed in the receiving groove and out of the wire winding shaft at two surfaces of the first disk body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Inventor: Sheng-Hsin Liao
  • Patent number: 6434797
    Abstract: The device includes a housing having a rear face with a clip thereon for releasably securing the housing to a child's clothing or other article which is convenient to the user. An elongate cord includes a proximal end secured to a spring biased roller within the housing. The cord extends through a channel in the housing and out through an opening in the side of the housing to a free distal en d portion which includes a fastener for securing the distal end portion to a pacifier. In a relaxed state, the spring biased roller maintains the cord wound thereabout so that the distal end portion of the cord and attached pacifier are adjacent the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Susan Sagman
  • Patent number: 6431486
    Abstract: A tape measure having a braking structure is provided. The tape measure includes a casing having upper and lower portions defining therebetween an inner compartment, as well as at least one stopping block extending into the inner compartment. The tape measure further includes a tape assembly disposed in the inner compartment, a displaceable release key coupled to the casing, a braking element pivotally coupled to the casing, a stopping piece displaceably disposed in the inner compartment, and a resilient member extending between portions of the braking element and release key. The braking element is pivotally displaceable between braking and debraking position, and is formed with distal first and second ends. The first end is coupled to a first part of the release key for displacement responsive thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Inventor: Shih-Lin Lee
  • Publication number: 20020036249
    Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and lowering hunting supplies has a hollow housing with a line aperture. A spring-loaded cord reel is rotatably mounted in the housing with a line wound on the reel and having a free end extending through the line aperture. A hook for attachment to hunting supplies is attached to the line free end and can be removably inserted into the housing through the line aperture or a separate storage opening. A slider mounted on the housing is movable between a released position permitting free rotation of the reel for automatically winding and manually unwinding the line and a hold position engaging the line to prevent rotation of the reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Kettenbeil
  • Patent number: 6276071
    Abstract: A spring-loaded tape cartridge in a tape measure housing includes a coilable tape rotatably mounted to position a free end of the tape to pass through an opening in the housing. The tape cartridge is biased to retract the tape into the compartment when the free end is pulled out of the housing to perform a measurement. A stop tab at the free end engages the workpiece and assures that the free end remains outside housing and available for gripping. An internal spring portion acts between the housing and the tape cartridge for applying a substantially constant frictional force on the tape cartridge. A second spring portion is provided for selectively applying increased and decreased frictional forces on the tape cartridge to supplement the substantially constant frictional forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Olympia Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Zareh Khachatoorian
  • Patent number: 6250578
    Abstract: A cable winding housing for a cable used to interconnect a computer and an external peripheral device. The housing includes a spring-operated, winding cylindrical shaft around which the cable is wound, a teeth wheel assembly superposed around the shaft, and a spring-loaded locking element configured for locking between two of the teeth on the teeth wheel, wherein the locking element is releasable from outside of the housing. When the locking element is locked into the teeth wheel, the shaft is prevented from rotating such that the cable can not be unwound from or wound into the housing. When the locking element is released from the teeth wheel, the shaft can rotate and the cable can alternatively be either wound into or unwound from the housing. The housing prevents a cable used to interconnect two devices from becoming entangled with other cables and ensures that each cable is taut and does not sag downward, thereby providing a neat connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Venakata Krishna Roa Manda