Abstract:
A retractable cord device for storing a separate cord within the device includes a main body and a coiling mechanism coupled to the main body. The coiling mechanism includes a coil drum having a slot formed therein. The slot is constructed and arranged for receiving the separate cord therein. The coiling mechanism further includes a coil coupled to the coil drum and the main body. Upon placing the separate cord in the slot of the coil drum, the coil rotates the coil drum to draw the separate cord within the main body. A method for storing a separate cord within a retractable cord device is further disclosed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/598,949, entitled “RETRACTABLE CORD DEVICE FOR STORING A SEPARATE CORD AND METHOD OF DOING THE SAME,” filed on Aug. 5, 2004, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a cord storage device, and more particularly, to a retractable cord device for storing a cord that is separate from the device.  
         [0004]     2. Discussion of Related Art  
         [0005]     Devices for coiling and storing retractable cords, such as cords used to connect computers, phones and similar equipment, for example, are well known in the art. Such devices, however, typically provide a cord that is integral with the device. For example, a device having a plastic casing which houses a cord having at least one end accessible at an end of the casing can be extended by drawing the end of the cord away from the casing. The result of this pulling motion is that the cord extends from the casing. By stopping the pulling motion, the cord is typically locked in place for use. The cord is then retracted back into the cover by simply pulling one of the ends of the cord whereby a coiling mechanism draws the cord back into the casing for storage.  
         [0006]     Anyone who has traveled can appreciate that loose cords are particularly difficult to store and are often too long for their intended use. There is presently a need for a device capable of storing a cord that is separate from the device.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a retractable cord device for storing a separate cord within the device comprises a main body and a coiling mechanism coupled to the main body. The coiling mechanism being constructed and arranged to receive and coil the separate cord within the main body. Upon placing the separate cord in the coiling mechanism, the coiling mechanism is adapted to draw the separate cord within the main body.  
         [0008]     Other embodiments include a cover releasably secured to the main body. Specifically, the cover includes at least two latching prongs, and the main body includes at least two latching prong recesses configured to receive the latching prongs therein.  
         [0009]     In other embodiments, the coiling mechanism includes a coil drum having a slot formed therein. The slot is constructed and arranged for receiving the separate cord therein. The coiling mechanism further includes a coil coupled to the coil drum and the main body. The main body includes a coil drum seat configured to receive the coil drum therein. A locking assembly is coupled to the main body. The locking assembly is constructed and arranged to releasably lock the coil drum in place. The coil drum has a groove formed around a circumference of the coil drum, and the locking assembly includes a latch pin that is positioned to travel within the groove of the coil drum and a locking notch to releasably lock the latch pin in place. The coil drum includes a coil stem having the slot formed therein. During use, the separate cord is wrapped around the coil stem when rotating the coil drum.  
         [0010]     In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method of storing a separate cord within a retractable cord device comprises providing a separate cord; providing a retractable cord device comprising a main body, and a coiling mechanism coupled to the main body, the coiling mechanism including a coil drum having a slot formed therein, the slot being constructed and arranged for receiving the separate cord therein, and a coil coupled to the coil drum and the main body; placing the separate cord in the slot of the coil drum; and rotating the coil drum to draw the separate cord within the main body. In one embodiment, the method further comprises releasably locking the cord at a desired length.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retractable cord device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention with a cover member of the device removed to reveal components housed within a main body of the device;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the retractable cord device illustrated in  FIG. 1  having the cover member inserted in place;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the retractable cord device;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a partial sectional view of the retractable cord device;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the retractable cord device;  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the retractable cord device with the cover member removed;  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a top cross-sectional view of the retractable cord device;  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is an end view of the retractable cord device;  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the retractable cord device illustrated in  FIG. 8 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the retractable cord device;  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the retractable cord device illustrated in  FIG. 10 ; and  
         [0022]      FIGS. 12 and 13  are modeled images of the retractable cord device shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , respectively. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]     This invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and variations thereof herein, is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.  
         [0024]     Turning now to  FIGS. 1-3 , there is generally indicated at  5  a retractable cord device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The retractable cord device  5  is designed to store a separately provided cord  70  within the device. The device  5  includes a main body or housing  10  and a cover member  20  that, in the shown embodiment, is adapted to be releasably secured to the main body to capture the components of the device within the main body. The main body  10  includes an axle pin  12 , a coil drum recess  14 , a cord slot  16 , latching prong recesses  18  and a locking arm seat  19 . These components and features of the retractable cord device  5  will be described in further detail below.  
         [0025]     The cover member  20  has a circular bearing groove  22  that is formed in the center of the bottom facing surface of the cover member, and two pairs of latching prongs  24  designed to snap fit within the latching prong recesses  18  formed in the main body  10  to releasably secure the cover member to the main body. It should be noted that any type of releasable fastener may be utilized to releasably secure the cover member  20  to the main body  10 , and that the provision of the latching prongs  26  and latching prong recesses  18  is but one way to achieve this function.  FIG. 2  illustrates the device  5  with the cover  20  attached to the main body, wherein the cover is designed to secure the working components of the device within the main body  10 . As shown, one pair of latching prongs  24  is provided at one end of the underside of the cover member  20 , and another pair of latching prongs  24  is provided at the other end of the cover member. The arrangement is such that each pair of locking prongs defines a cord traveling slot  26  between the latching prongs  24 , through which, along with the cord slot  16 , a separately provided cord  70  is received.  
         [0026]     The device  5  further includes a coiling mechanism to coil the cord within the device after securing the cord  70  to the device. The coiling mechanism comprises a coil drum  30  having a cord coiling stem  32  and a cord receiver slot  34 . The coiling mechanism further includes a coil  50  designed to fit within a downwardly opening cavity or pocket (not shown) formed in the bottom of the coil drum  30 . The arrangement is such that one end of the coil  50  is secured to the axle pin  12  and the other end of the coil is secured to the coil drum  30  when placing the coil drum over the axle pin. Specifically, when the retractable cord device is assembled, the spring coil  50  is inserted into the pocket of the coil drum  30 , with one end of the spring coil  50  secured to the inner face perimeter wall of the coil drum and the other end of the spring coil inserted into a slot formed in the axle pin  12 .  
         [0027]     With particular reference to  FIG. 3 , formed along a circumferential edge of the coil drum  30  is a bi-forked groove  36  with a locking notch  38 . The locking action of the coil drum  30  with respect to the main body  10  is achieved by a locking arm assembly  60  of the coiling mechanism. The locking arm assembly  60  includes a base block  62 , a spring arm  64 , a spring head  66 , and a latch pin  68 . As the coil drum  30  rotates as a result of pulling the cord  70 , the latch pin  68  tracks the bi-forked groove  36 , and during its travel along the groove (either clockwise or counterclockwise, depending on the direction of bias of the coil  50 ) the latch pin  68  is seated within the locking notch  38 . The result is the engagement of the latch pin  68  and the coil drum  30  within the locking notch  38 , which restricts the return of the cord  70  within the device  5 . Upon lightly pulling or tugging the cord  70 , the latch pin  68  releases the coil drum  30  at the locking notch  38 , and the coil drum can freely rotate to either extend or retract the cord, depending on the direction of the stored energy of the coil  50 . The locking arm assembly  60  is imbedded within the locking arm seat  19  of the main body  10 , the locking arm seat being oriented at an approximately 45° angle with respect to a long axis defined by the main body.  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  best illustrates the coil drum  30  having a larger circular body with the aforementioned cylindrical pocket to receive the spring coil  50 , and the cord stem  32  having the cord receiver slot  34 . Within the pocket of the coil drum  30 , there is formed a conical convex recess that is shaped to sit tightly on the axle pin  12 . Once the coiling mechanism is assembled within the main body  10 , a coil drum cover plate  40  is provided to secure the coil drum  30  and the other components of the coiling mechanism within the main body drum recess  14 .  
         [0029]     The retractable cord device  5  is fully assembled when the coil drum  30  and the spring coil  50  are placed within the main body drum coil recess  14  on top of the conically-shaped axle pin  12 . The locking arm assembly  60  is positioned within the locking arm seat  19  and the coil drum cover plate  40  is installed on top of the coil drum recess. The cover plate  40  may be secured to the main body by an adhesive, for example. In this position, the cover plate  40  is aligned with the long axis of the main body  10 .  
         [0030]     In one embodiment, the cover member  20  may be provided to a user in a configuration in which the cover plate is separate from the main body  10 . The user inserts the cord  70  into the cord receiver slot  34  of the cord coiling stem  32  at the midpoint of the cord  70 . The user then winds the cord counterclockwise (or clockwise depending on the configuration of the coil  50 ) at least once around the stem, and positions the whips of the cord into the cord slots  16 . Next, the user installs the cover member  20  onto the main body  10 . The cord coil stem  32  is positioned within the circular bearing groove  22  of the cover member  20 , and by inserting and snap-fitting the pairs of latching prongs  24  into the latching prong recesses  18 , the cover member is secured to the main body  10 . Once assembled, the retractable cord device is ready for its intended use.  
         [0031]     The retractable cord device  5  is used by simply pulling the cord  70  simultaneously in opposite directions to a desired cord length. Once extended, the locking arm assembly  60  maintains the extension of the cord  70  at the desired length. The cord  70  is retracted into a coiled position around the coil drum  30  by simply tugging one of the cord&#39;s ends thereby releasing the latch pin  68  of the locking arm assembly  60  from the locking notch  38  provided on the coil drum.  
         [0032]     Reference may be made to  FIGS. 4-13  for views showing certain aspects of the present invention as previously described. It should be appreciated that a person having ordinary skill in the art, given the benefit of the present invention, can employ any number of design choices to achieve the purpose of the present invention.  
         [0033]     Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.