Abstract:
A cord organizer for cosmetology tools at a work station includes a cord retractor mounted on the work station to which the existing cord of an appliance may be connected without modification at an exterior receptacle on the rotating portion of the retractor housing. A locking grommet between the cord and the slot prevents movement forces on the electrical connection during extension and retraction. The housing further includes a wide angle extended circumferential opening that allows operator observation of the cord condition and increased cord mobility during use.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to cord organizing systems, and, in particular, to a cord organizer for extending and retracting the power cords on hair care appliances at a cosmetology work station. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Barbers, stylists, and other professionals in the cosmetology and hair care service business use a wide variety of manual and electrical tools during the course of the day. All equipment is generally restricted to a confined area, oftentimes a countertop or a cabinet with a limited workspace. Because of such space limitations, the electrical tools are hung on brackets or hooks with the cords connected at a power strip. Over the course of a workday, the cord can become entangled, twisted or pulled from the electrical outlet, or dislodged from the storage location and damaged. The cords are generally lengthy, contacting the dust and hair on the floor. To maintain an orderly and efficient work area, it is necessary throughout the day to disentangle and rearrange the cords for unimpeded access to the desired tool. 
   Recognizing the foregoing problems, a number of approaches for managing the cords of styling, drying and clipping tools used in the trade have been proposed. None, however, fully address the needs of the workplace and operator, and do not appear to be commercially available. 
   For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,379,903 to Smith discloses a custom enclosure having internal cord retractors, each of which has a power cord that is adapted for rewiring into existing barber clippers. In addition to being large and cumbersome for incorporation into most limited workspaces, the layout is not compatible with current hair styling equipment such as blowers, curling irons and the like. Further, the electrical approvals required for sale would not be satisfied by the generic proposal for interfacing with the existing barber tools. Each tool requires a defined termination to provide safe and dependable operation, including a strain relief at the tool inlet and terminations meshing with the internal hardware. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,121 to Raeford also discloses a custom housing having custom internal retractors. To overcome the above limitation on rewiring the appliance, the existing power cord plug is attached to a conventional electrical socket on the retractor. This presents problems when the tool cord is extended. If overextended, the cord is likely to separate from the socket, disabling the tool and requiring lengthy disassembly of the housing for reconnection. The apparatus would require approval before sale or use and is not known to be currently marketed. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,156 to Smith discloses a wheeled cart having a cabinet provided with cord retractors that have conventional, axially separable plug and socket connections with the standard appliance cords. To provide for retraction of the standard appliance cord, the connection must be established in the tensioned state establishing an initial loading thereon promoting separation. In such state, inadvertent actuation of the retractor prior to connection can cause rotation to the retracted state thus frustrating operation until repair. 
   The foregoing limitations were effectively overcome the cosmetology work station disclosed in my copending application, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/835,194 filed on Apr. 29, 2004 and entitled “Cord Organizer For Cosmetology Work Station”. Therein a method and apparatus were provided for controlling the cord lengths of appliances at a work station using approved and proven electrical and mechanical components that could be readily incorporated at existing locations with existing tools, allowing the extension and retraction of the power cords without risk of separation. There are instances in this field wherein physically altering the appliance cords is a disadvantage. The work force is somewhat fluid, with personnel changing employment over the course of their career and accordingly unwilling to effect a cord modification that might not be directly usable at the next site. Similarly, a location change within the existing site might not be able to accommodate the modified appliance. 
   Therefore, it would be desirable to retain the benefits of my prior apparatus while allowing personnel to use their appliances without modification. U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,952 to Randall discloses a housing with internal retractors having radial sockets into which the power cords are conventionally inserted. Randall, however, does not meet current regulatory requirements. First, prevailing regulations require that plug-in type connections cannot be enclosed or covered to avoid situations where the plug loosens from the receptacle. In Randall, the centripetal forces on the plug during winding creates such a separating potential, and resultant arcing and possible fire. Further, the cord should be visible in use and storage so that wear and tear can be assessed prior to shorting or other electrical failure. The Randall device establishes both the electrical connection and the retracted cord behind a cover assembly and thus at variance with regulations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a cord retractor for mounting at a cosmetology work station whereat existing appliances may be connecting using the original cord without modification by plugging the cord into a receptacle carried on the rotating portion of the retractor housing, inserted through mating radial slots in the housing and cord reel, and wound about the reel with the retracting mechanism. A locking grommet between the cord and slot prevents movement forces on the electrical connection during extension and retraction. The housing further includes a wide angle extended circumferential opening that allows operator observation of the cord condition and increased cord mobility during use. 
   Accordingly, the invention provides a cord retractor for electrical cords of appliances usable without modification of the appliance cords and in conformity with prevailing electrical regulations 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the cord retractors in accordance with an embodiment of the invention mounted on a work station; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the cord retractor of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the cord retractor of  FIG. 1  and a cosmetology appliance before connection; 
       FIG. 4  is a side view of the cord retractor connected to the cosmetology appliance in the extended position; 
       FIG. 5  is a side view of the cord retractor with the cosmetology appliance in the retracted position; 
       FIG. 6  is a right side exploded perspective view of the cord retractor; 
       FIG. 7  is a right side assembled view of the cord retractor; 
       FIG. 8  is a left side exploded perspective view of the cord retractor; and 
       FIG. 9  is a cross section view of the cord retractor taken along line  9 — 9  in  FIG. 3 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a cosmetology work station  10  having a cord organizer  12  carrying a pair of cord retractors  14  for organizing and controlling the lengths of the electrical power cords  16 , having plugs  17 , of cosmetology hair care appliances including, without limitation, a razor  18  and a curling iron  20 . When not in use the appliances may be stored directly on the cord retractor in the illustrated retracted cord position or on conventional accessories such as brackets, support sleeves, hooks or the like. The cord retractors allow personnel to use their existing equipment without modification. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 through 5 , the plug  17  of the cord  16  is connected into exposed outlet assembly  22  on one end face of the retractor  14 , wrapped around a retractor reel  24 , and extended to an operative position or retracted to a parked retracted position. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the cord organizer  12  comprises a rectangular mounting base  30  attached to a side panel  32  of the work station  10 , a plurality of the cord retractors  14  carried on mounting slides  34 , and a conventional power strip  36  having sockets for receiving the plugs of the input cords  38  to the retractors  14 . 
   The retractors  14  as modified for the purposes of the present invention may be based on commercially available, UL approved electrical devices. A suitable retractor for use and modification in the invention is Pro-Reel, model number  700  AR available from Alert Manufacturing Inc. of Bedford, Ohio. Suitable power strips, also UL approved, are widely commercially available from a variety of manufacturers. 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , each retractor  14  includes a base assembly  40  including a two-piece cylindrical reel housing  41  rotatably carrying the retractor reel  24 . As described briefly below, a conventional releasable latching mechanism serves to maintain the appliance cord length at extended positions. Upon a slight forward pull on the cord, the latching mechanism is released and the extended cord is coiled onto the spool by spring biasing. 
   The base assembly  40  includes a rearward generally rectangular support arm  42  that is pivotally connected to a mounting bracket  44  for rotation about a vertical axis  46  thereby allowing the retractor to pivot freely in response to appliance cord direction and reducing stress on the cord. The mounting bracket  44  is adapted to be downwardly telescopically received on the mounting slide  34  to a retained detented mounting position. A circuit breaker  48  is mounted on the arm  42  for controlling power to the appliance. It will be readily apparent that a fixed mounting assembly may be used. To provide lateral spacing, one of the retractors may be mounted to the base  30  by a spacer block  49  ( FIG. 1 ). 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 9 , the reel housing comprises a fixed housing member  50  connected to the support arm  42 , and a rotating housing member  52  carried on the retractor reel  24 . The housing members  50  and  52  are axially spaced to form a wide angle circumferential opening  54  for installing and monitoring the condition of the appliance cord  16 . The opening spans a sector of about 270° between a upper vertical frontal end adjacent the top of the arm  42 , and a lower horizontal rearward end adjacent the bottom of the arm. The housing member  50  includes a circular end wall  56  and a circumferential side wall  58 . A notch  60  is formed in the upper frontal quadrant of the side wall  58  frontally terminating at a horizontal support ledge  62 . The notch  60  and adjacent slot  54  form an enlarged opening for withdrawing the appliance cord without interference, with the ledge  62  supporting the appliance and cord in the retracted position. 
   As shown in  FIG. 9 , the retractor reel  24  is a two-piece interfitted assembly having a center cylindrical hub assembly  64  rotatably supported about a horizontal axis  65  on a pivot shaft  66  fixedly connected centrally at the end wall of housing member  50  by fastener  68 . The reel  24  includes an outer cylindrical hub  70  bounded by axially spaced annular end walls  72 ,  73  defining an outwardly opening circumferential groove for carrying the appliance cord in assembly. A coiled torsion spring  74  is carried in a counterbore recess between the hub  70  and the pivot shaft  66 . The outer free end of the spring  74  is fixed to the hub  70  and the inner free end is fixed to the shaft  66 . Upon extension of the cord in use and rotation of the retractor wheel, the spring  74  is increasingly coiled to develop a biasing for retracting the cord in the retraction mode. 
   The retractor reel  24  is provided with a latching assembly for providing detented extension positions for the cord and to permit rewinding of the reel with the biasing of the coiled torsion spring  74 . The latching assembly includes a detent wheel  84  attached to the end of the shaft  66  by fastener  86  and a latching plate  88  rotatably carried by the wheel. The detent wheel  84  includes a toothed sector  90  and a notched sector  92 . The latching plate  88  includes a pivotally mounted, spring biased pawl  94 . The pawl  94  is biased into engagement at the notched sector  92  to establish a locked condition. Upon forward movement of the cord, the pawl  94  indexes to the notched sector, whereupon release of the cord allows rewinding to the retracted position, or the retraction slowed sufficiently to allow the pawl to engage again the notched sector. 
   The housing member  52  is rotatably attached to the side wall of the reel  24  by fasteners  100 . The end wall of the housing member  52  carries the receptacle assembly  22  for electrically connecting the appliance. The receptacle assembly  22  includes a domed end cap  102  enclosing a single outlet electrical receptacle  104  and covering a center rectangular opening in the housing member  52 . The end cap  102  may be a separate component or integral with the housing member  52 . The receptacle  104  includes inwardly extending legs  106  attached to the side wall of the retractor reel by fasteners  108 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 6 through 9 , the power cord  38  of the retractor  14  is electrically connected with a pair of spring terminals  110  radially spaced about the rotation axis on the inner surface of the housing member  50 . A pair of circular commutator rings  112  are mounted on the outer surface of the side wall  72  of the retractor reel and respectively engage the terminals  110 . The commutator rings  112  are connected with the electrical terminals of the receptacle by lead wires  114  that extend axially through the hub of the reel, thereby establishing an electrical path from the power strip  36  to the receptacle  104 . 
   The housing member  52  and the adjacent side wall of the wheel are provided with radially outwardly opening axially aligned mounting slots  120 , 122  respectively. The slot  120  terminates at a circular base wall  124  ( FIG. 2 ). 
   To assemble the cord of the appliance on the retractor  14 , a split circular grommet  126  is located on the appliance cord, as shown in  FIG. 3 . The grommet include a circumferential groove. The appliance cord is plugged into the receptacle  104 , the grommet  126  fully inserted into the slot  122 . The cord is then wound on the reel through the circumferential housing opening  54  ( FIG. 2 ). After assembly, the operator may withdraw the cord for operative use of the appliance ( FIG. 4 ). After completion, the cord is retracted as described above to the retracted parked position ( FIG. 5 ). 
   In the assembled condition, the appliance cord and plug are clearly visible to the operator such that wear and tear and electrical complications can be clearly observed, in accordance with prevailing regulations. If the operator desires to change appliances, or move to another work site, the appliance may be safely disconnected in reverse order of the above steps. The resulting tool provides an approved assembly through the integration of rated and UL approved components. 
   It will be apparent that the cord retractor above described may be used for organizing the power cords of other electrical devices wherein it is desired to store the appliance on a support surface and provide retracting of the cord for operative uses. 
   Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claim.