Patent Publication Number: US-6905088-B2

Title: Cable-winder device

Description:
The present invention relates to a portable device for winding a cable suitable for use, in particular on a worksite, as an electrical extension cord for feeding electricity to one or more pieces of equipment while also making it possible, after it has been used, for the cable to be wound appropriately. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In practice, on a worksite, it is necessary not only to have a cable winder, but also a tool box, electrical appliances which are to be used, and possibly also a stool or a stepladder for gaining access to high parts of walls or to a ceiling. 
   In addition, conventional cable winders do not stand securely on the ground and they are generally laid flat in ill-conceived manner. 
   OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the present invention is to provide a cable-winder device that is functionally and/or ergonomically improved. 
   The invention thus provides a cable-winder device comprising first and second hinged-together portions, one of the portions having a housing for a cable winder. 
   In one embodiment, improved positioning on the ground is achieved because the first and second portions are hinged between a stowage position in which the first and second portions are in abutment against each other, and an in-use position in which the first and second portions are spread apart from each other and present ground-engaging support faces for resting on the ground so that in its in-use position, the device is self-supporting. 
   In its in-use disposition, the device advantageously presents a top surface that is plane and made up of one or two portions. 
   In the in-use disposition, it is advantageous for said support faces to form a plane surface, thus providing a stable position on the ground. 
   In particular, it is advantageous for the device to be suitable for use as a stool when it is in its in-use position. 
   The cable winder can be placed in a front face of the second portion. In a side face adjacent to said front face, the second portion may include a housing for receiving an electrical plug for making a connection with the cable winder. 
   The article can be made more useful by the first portion and/or the second portion presenting at least one stowage compartment. 
   The first portion and/or the second portion may present at least one liftable hatch giving access to at least one such stowage compartment. 
   At least a top face of the first and/or second portion may present an opening enabling the device to be held in the hand. Advantageously, this opening defines a housing making it possible to grip the device about the hinge between the first and second portions. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear better on reading the following description which is given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of a device of the invention in its stowage position; 
       FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are respectively a left-hand front view and a side view of the  FIG. 1  device in its in-use position, with 
       FIG. 3   a  showing the device in its in-use position with a liftable hatch shown open so as to reveal at least one stowage compartment, and with 
       FIG. 3   b  being a section on CC of  FIG. 3   a ; and 
       FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are respectively a plan view and a section view on AA of the device of the invention in its in-use position. 
   

   MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , the device comprises two main portions referenced  1  and  2  which are hinged together at  3  between their top faces  10  and  20  which are advantageously plane. In the stowage position as shown in  FIG. 1 , the first and second portions  1  and  2  come into abutment against each other via their respective inside faces  41  and  42 . 
   In the in-use position shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , the first and second portions  1  and  2  are spaced apart by pivoting about the hinge  3  such that the plane support faces  19  and  29  become coplanar, thus enabling the device to be stood on the ground. The second portion referenced  2  houses a cable winder  22  presenting a plurality of electrical receptacles  23 , in which case four receptacles, together with a handle  27  enabling the winder to be rotated for winding the cable in and out. The cable winder  22  may be of a commercially-available type. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 2   b , the top faces  10  and  20  are coplanar and an element  45  such as blocking rod or brace serves to limit relative angular movement between the portions  1  and  2 . Insofar as the housing constituting the portions  1  and  2  are made of a material of sufficient thickness, when the device is in its deployed position for use, it can also serve as a stool for a user who can stand on the device, with the top faces  10  and  20  serving to support the user&#39;s feet. In particular, the portions  1  and  2  may be made of molded plastics material. The presence of the winder  22  contributes to its mechanical strength. 
     FIG. 3   a  shows firstly the cable winder  22  projecting form the front face  21  of the second portion  2 , and secondly a liftable hatch  12  hinged at  14  that enables the front face  11  of the first portion  1  to be open, thereby revealing one or more stowage compartments that are made available inside the first portion  1 , e.g. surrounded by the side panels  14  and  15  and by an end wall panel  41 . The pivoting panel  12  can be locked about the axis  12 ′ in simple manner, for example by means of elements  16  and  17  of matching shapes situated on either side of the panel (see  FIG. 4   a ) and suitable for being engaged in one another on the application of a small amount of force. 
     FIG. 3   a  and the section CC of  FIG. 3   b  show more particularly under overall reference  5  the plug  52  for connecting the cable winder to the mains electricity supply, which plug is connected to one end of the cable  53  of the winder  22 , and is received in a housing  51  so as to avoid projecting beyond the side wall  24  opposite from the side wall  25  of the second portion  2  of the device, thus enabling electrical connection to be achieved easily and also enabling the device to be stowed conveniently after use. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b , it can be seen that in the preferred embodiment shown therein, the hinge  3  is made up firstly of cylinders  30  and  31  secured to the first portion  1  and engaged between cylinders  32  (in this case four cylinders) secured to the second portion  2 . A shaft  36  is received in these cylinders while they are in alignment and act as a hinge pin. 
   In addition, a housing  28  defined by two cylindrical portions  46  and  47  is provided in the top face  20  and occupies approximately 180° (in the in-use position) so as to join in non-through manner the top face  10  to which the cylinder  30  is secured. As a result, the user can insert a hand and make use of the cylinder  30  as a handle for the device, both when it is in the open position as shown in  FIG. 4   b  and when it is in the closed position as shown in FIG.  1 . To make the device easier to grip, the diameter of the cylinder  30  is made to be larger than that of the other cylinders  31  and  32  mentioned above. 
   In addition,  FIG. 4   b  shows the cable winder  22  whose cylindrical hub  22 ′ comes into abutment at  43  against an end wall  42 . A housing  44  of substantially annular shape serves to receive the cable  53  of the cable winder  22 . Any space that is left available around the winder  22  can be used for providing one or more stowage compartments.