Abstract:
An improved reel is described. The reel includes a fine-tuning structure for adjusting the length of wires or cords drawn from the reel and a button component for winding the wires or cords. Thereby, the length of cords or wires is adjusted to a desired level in multiple stages as necessary, and the cords or wires of such reel are collected quickly and smoothly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention generally relates to a reel, and more particularly, to an improved structure of a reel including a fine-tuning structure for adjusting the length of wires or cords drawn from the reel and including a button component for winding the wires or cords, which is used to control reeling in and out the cords or wires of manifold devices such as electronic products, computers, phones, and communication equipment. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   As the technology is progressed ceaselessly, the structures of computers, phones, as well as electric and communication equipment are developed to meet the requirements of the present market. However, it is always inconvenient to store the cords or wires of these devices. To solve the problem, various kinds of reels are provided to collect the cords or wires and control the length of cords or wires in use. 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , a reel  10  is utilized by pulling out the wires or cords  101  at two ends with hands, which is single-staged. That is, the reel  10  is not fixed until the cords thereof are completely drawn out. In order to roll up the cords  101 , users need to drag and release the cords  101  at two ends simultaneously, and thereby the cords  101  are collected automatically. Another kind of reel  10  belongs to a multi-staged reel, in which the cords  101  are drawn out and fixed in multiple stages. Though the cords  101  can be fixed in multiple stages while being pulled, it is difficult to define the length of the cords  101  and then adjust the length. Moreover, it is still unfavorable to reel out the cords  101  at two ends concurrently because the process needs to be repeated several times for entire collection of the cords  101 . 
   In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, there is a need not only to adjust and define the length of cords or wires in use, but also to wind the cords or wires through such an easy approach as pressing a button. Hence, a reel that satisfies the concerns of convenience and utility is investigated and filed as an US patent application, which has been granted as U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,177 now. 
   Based on the granted patent, an improved structure of a reel is further investigated and provided in this application. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is one object of the invention to provide an improved structure of a reel. The reel is designed and configured based on the structure described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,147,177. The reel includes a fine-tuning structure for adjusting the length of wires or cords drawn from the reel and a button component for winding the wires or cords. By this reel, the length of cords or wires is adjusted to a desired level in multiple stages. Additionally, the cords or wires of such reel are collected quickly and smoothly. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of operating a conventional reel; 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded diagram showing various components in a reel according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a tubular shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a movable shaft assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the bottom of a rotating disc according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-section view of a reel according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the cords are drawn out; and 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of a reel according to an embodiment of the invention, in which the cords are rolled up. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 2  is an exploded diagram showing various components in a reel according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown, a base trench  201  is disposed in the middle of a bottom housing  20 . A spring trench  202  is depressed in the middle of the base trench  201  for accommodating a spring  30 . A plurality of plugholes  203  is positioned between the base trench  201  and the spring trench  202 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 4 , a movable shaft assembly  40  includes a bottom plate  401 . Several bumps  402  beveled in the same direction are disposed on the edge of the bottom plate  401 . An axial support  403  with a groove  403   a  is disposed in the middle of the bottom plate  401 . 
   Also referring to  FIG. 3 , a tubular shaft assembly  50  includes a base plate  501 . A tubular shaft  502  with a groove  502   a  is extended from the middle of the base plate  501 . The base plate  501  further includes a plurality of sliding openings  503 . A plurality of plugs  504  is disposed at the bottom of the base plate  501 . 
   The axial support  403  of the movable shaft assembly  40  is inserted into the tubular shaft  502 . The bumps  402  on the bottom plate  401  of the movable shaft assembly  40  are correspondingly put in the sliding openings  503  on the base plate  501  of the tubular shaft assembly  50 , and may move back and forth therein. The plugs  504  at the bottom of the base plate  501  are inset to the plugholes  203  of the bottom housing  20 , respectively. As such, the spring  30  within the spring trench  202  pushes the bottom plate  401  of the movable shaft assembly  40  constantly. A rotating disc  60  is provided for containing wound cords  70  and has a coil spring  80 . The rotating disc  60  is set in the tubular shaft  502  of the tubular shaft assembly  50  and rotates about the tubular shaft  502 . The initial end of the coil spring  80  is attached to the groove  403   a  of the axial support  403  and the groove  502   a  of the tubular shaft  502 . The terminal of the coil spring  80  is fixed on the edge of the rotating disc  60 . Referring to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , several fastening trenches  601  in the form complementary to the beveled bumps  402  of the movable shaft assembly  40  are depressed at the bottom of the rotating disc  60  and engage with the bumps  402 . A top housing  20   a  covers the resultant structure. A tube  901  of a button component  90  passes through a through hole in the center of the top housing  20   a , and is sleeved onto the axial support  403  of the movable shaft assembly  40 , so as to constitute a reel  2000 . 
   Simultaneously referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the rotating disc  60  is turned by drawing out the cords  70  of the reel  2000 . The beveled fastening trenches  601  at the bottom of the rotating disc  60  mate with the beveled bumps  402  on the bottom plate  401  of the movable shaft assembly  40 , so both of them rotate in the same direction. The spring  30  pushes against the bottom of the bottom plate  401 ; hence, the bumps  402  and the fastening trenches  601  are fastened together and separated from each other alternately and repeatedly, i.e. the movable shaft assembly  40  axially moves up and down continuously. As the rotating disc  60  rotates, the fastening trenches  601  thereof engage with the beveled bumps  402  on the bottom plate  401  of the movable shaft assembly  40 , and the fastening trenches  601  and the beveled bumps  402  are then fixed mutually. When they are separated, the cords  70  can be drawn out in multiple stages, and its length is adjusted to a desired level as required. Moreover, the coil spring  80  is reeled in towards the tubular shaft  502  while the rotating disc  60  is turned, so as to create a strong reverse tension. Since the fastening trenches  601  at the bottom of the rotating disc  60  are coupled with the beveled bumps  402  on the bottom plate  401  of the movable shaft assembly  40 , it avoids the opposite rotation of the rotating disc  60  and the rolling up of the cords caused by the reverse tension from the coil spring  80 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , in order to roll up the cords  70 , the button component  90  is pressed to force the movable shaft assembly  40  to move downwards. As a result, the bumps  402  are separated from the fastening trenches  601  of the rotating disc  60 , and the reverse tension from the coil spring  80  is released. Meanwhile, the rotating disc  60  is turned in the opposite direction to wind and collect the cords  70  in the reel  2000 . 
   In accordance with the description above, the reel structure possesses the benefit of adjusting the cords reeled in or out in multiple stages. The structure is not known to the public, and has utility and novelty. It is appreciated if the application is examined and granted. 
   The aforementioned embodiments of the present invention are intended to be illustrative only. Numerous alternative embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims.