Abstract:
A manually operated cord storage reel with electrical outlets, the storage reel for storing, transporting, and dispensing an electrical cord and including a frame capable of supporting the storage reel for rotation in a vertical position or a horizontal position.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a storage reel and more particularly to a manually operated storage reel with for storing, transporting, and dispensing electrical cord.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Cord storage reels for storing and transporting electrical extension cords are known. Such reels consist basically of a spool, upon which a cord can be wound. In some cases, the spool is enclosed in a housing. Typically, a crank is connected to the spool so that the spool can be manually rotated to wind the cord thereabout. Such reels are particularly useful in industrial or commercial settings such as automobile repair shops, machine shops, carpentry shops and construction sites. The reels permit workers to readily access electrical power as needed for the operation of portable electric tools, test devices, and trouble lights at various locations remote from an existing power outlet. Such reels are also convenient to use around the house and yard, particularly for use with electrically powered outdoor appliances like hedge trimmers, electric lawn mowers, edgers, and blowers that could potentially be used hundreds of feet from an electrical outlet.  
         [0003]     It would be desirable to produce a manually operated cord storage reel having electrical outlets wherein a frame facilitates supporting the storage reel in a vertical or horizontal position.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     Consistent and consonant with the present invention, a manually operated cord storage reel with electrical outlets wherein a frame facilitates supporting the storage reel in a vertical or horizontal position, has surprisingly been discovered.  
         [0005]     The cord storage reel comprises a unitary frame including a generally U-shaped base portion, a handle portion, and a spool mounting axle, the base portion supporting the handle portion in spaced relation from the base portion and separately supporting the spool mounting axle in spaced relation to the base portion and the handle portion; and a spool having a rotational axis, the spool adapted to be rotatingly mounted on the spool mounting axle of the frame, wherein the spool mounting axle is sufficiently spaced from the handle portion and the base portion to rotatingly receive the spool therebetween, and wherein the frame is adapted to selectively support the reel where the axis of rotation of the reel is in a first position and where the axis of rotation is in a second position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0006]     The above, as well as other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be understood from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is an exploded front perspective view of a cord storage reel incorporating the features of the invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a front perspective view showing the cord storage reel illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the assembled condition; and  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view showing the cord storage reel illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the assembled condition. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0010]     Referring now to the drawings, and particularly  FIG. 1 , there is shown generally at  10  a cord storage reel incorporating the features of the invention. The cord storage reel  10  includes a frame  12  and a spool  14 . The frame  12  is typically a tubular structure and consists of a generally U-shaped base portion  16 , a handle portion  18 , and a spool mounting axle  20 . The spool mounting axle  20  has a flange  21  spaced from an end thereof to militate against axial movement of the associated spool  14 . The handle portion  18  is adapted to receive a top handle section  22  and a cooperating bottom handle section  24 . The top handle section  22  and the bottom handle section  24  cooperate to fit around and are securely affixed on the handle portion  18  of the frame  12 . A foot pad  23  is formed at one end of the top handle section  22 . A plurality of foot pads  25  are disposed on the base portion  16 , a leg or a cross member  27  between the base portion  16  and the handle portion  18 , and a leg or a cross member  29  between the base portion  16  and the spool mounting axle  20 .  
         [0011]     The spool  14  has an axis of rotation R and includes a central hub  26 , a front flange  28 , and a rear flange  30 . The hub  26  has a centrally disposed sleeve  32  adapted to rotatingly receive the spool mounting axle  20  of the frame  12 . An annular array of ribs  34  is formed on an outer surface of the hub  26 , at least some of which ribs include a threaded portion to facilitate connection of the front flange  28  and the rear flange  30  to the hub  26  to form the spool  14 . An aperture  36  is formed in the hub  26  adjacent the rear flange  30  and is adapted to receive a male electrical plug (not shown) which can be connected to a female electrical plug end of an extension cord (not shown).  
         [0012]     The rear flange  30  of the spool  14  includes a central aperture  38  adapted to be received on the spool mounting axle  20  of the frame  12  and abut the flange  21 . The aperture  38  of the rear flange  30  is aligned with the sleeve  32  of the hub  26 . A projecting edge  40  surrounds the aperture  38  of the rear flange  30  and extends in a direction towards the hub  26  to be received by the sleeve  32 . A lip  42  surrounding a raised surface  44  is concentric with and spaced radially outwardly from the aperture  38  of the rear flange  30 . The lip  42  is adapted to be received by the hub  26 . A cap  46  having a central aperture  48  is adapted to be slidably received on the frame  12  and abut the flange  21  on a side opposite the rear flange  30  of the spool  14 .  
         [0013]     The front flange  28  of the spool  14  includes a plurality of central apertures  50  adapted to receive electrical outlets  52  therein. A switch and circuit breaker  54  is disposed in an aperture  56  formed adjacent the apertures  50  for the outlets  52 . The outlets  52  are typically held in place using threaded fasteners  58 . A lip  59  surrounding a raised surface  61  is formed in the front flange  28 . The lip  59  is adapted to be received by the hub  26 .  
         [0014]     A crank handle or winding knob  60  is rotatingly disposed on the front flange  28  adjacent a peripheral edge thereof. In the embodiment shown, the knob  60  is installed over an axle  62  and connected to the front flange  28  by a nut  64  and a bolt  66 . It is understood that other suitable fasteners could be used. Threaded fasteners  68  are used in the embodiment shown to connect the front flange  28  to the hub  26 , the rear flange  30  to the hub  26 , the cap  46  to the rear flange  30 , and the top handle section  22  to the bottom handle section  24 . It is understood that other fasteners could be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0015]     To assemble the cord storage reel  10 , the aperture  48  of the cap  46  is received on the handle portion  18  of the frame  12 . The cap  46  is moved along the frame  12  until connected to the cap  46  using the appropriate fasteners  68 . Sufficient clearance is provided between the cap  46  and the rear flange  30  to permit the cap  46  and the rear flange  30  assembly to rotate on the spool mounting axle  20  of the frame  12 .  
         [0016]     The hub  26  is connected to the rear flange  30  using the appropriate fasteners  68 . The lip  42  militates against lateral movement of the hub  26  when assembled with the rear flange  30 . The male electrical plug disposed in the aperture  36  formed in the hub  26  is electrically connected to the outlets  52 . An electrical connection is then made between the outlets  52  and the switch and circuit breaker  54 . The outlets  52  are installed in the apertures  50  and the switch is installed in the aperture  56 .  
         [0017]     The front flange  28  is connected to the hub  26  using the appropriate fasteners  68 . The lip  59  militates against relative movement between the hub  26  and the front flange  28  when assembled. The knob  60  is then fastened to the front flange  28  using the axle  62 , the nut  64 , and the bolt  66 .  
         [0018]     The top handle section  22  and the bottom handle section  24  are aligned with and connected to surround the handle portion  18  of the frame  12 . Appropriate fasteners  68  are used to join the top handle section  22  and the bottom handle section  24  with the handle portion  18 . The foot pads  25  are snapped on the frame  12  to be securely held thereon.  
         [0019]     The use of the cord storage reel  10  will now be described. Typically, the female electrical plug end of the extension cord is connected with the male electrical plug installed in the aperture  36  of the hub  26 . When being stored, the extension cord is coiled onto the hub  26  of the spool  14 . This is accomplished by a user gripping the knob  60  and rotating the spool  14  in the desired direction to coil the extension cord.  
         [0020]     When it is desired to use an electrical tool or an appliance, a male electrical plug end of the extension cord is plugged into a wall outlet (not shown). The user then uses the handle portion  18  to carry the cord storage reel  10  to a desired location. While transporting the cord storage reel  10 , the extension cord is caused to be spooled out or uncoiled from the spool  14 . At the desired location, the user is able to plug in the tool or appliance. Electrical power can then be supplied to the tool or appliance by moving the switch and circuit breaker  54  to the on position. In the event there is a short, the switch and circuit breaker  54  will be caused to interrupt the power supply, until the short can be corrected.  
         [0021]     During use, the user can position the cord storage reel  10  with the axis of rotation R in a substantially horizontal position as shown in  FIG. 2 . Additionally, where space limitations or use requirements dictate, the cord storage reel  10  can be placed on its back or with the axis of rotation R in a substantially vertical position. With the axis of rotation R in the horizontal position, the cord storage reel  10  is supported on any horizontal planar surface by the foot pads  25  located on the base portion  16  of the frame  12 . With the axis of rotation R in the vertical position, the cord storage reel  10  is supported on the horizontal support surface by the foot pads  25  located on the cross member  27  between the base portion  16  and the handle portion  18 , the cross member  29  between the base portion  16  and the spool mounting axle  20 , and the foot pad  23  disposed on the top handle section  22 .  FIG. 3  most clearly shows the back portion of the cord storage reel  10  which supports the cord storage reel  10  with the axis of rotation R in the vertical position.  
         [0022]     Permitting the user to use the cord storage reel  10  with the axis of rotation R in the horizontal position and the vertical position provides the user with the flexibility of using the cord storage reel  10  in a variety of situations. Additionally, in the embodiment shown, the front flange  28  and the rear flange  30  are produced from metal, whereas the remaining parts of the cord storage reel  10  are produced from plastic. The metal flanges  28 ,  30  provide structural strength and rigidity, while the plastic portions minimize the overall weight of the cord storage reel  10 . It is understood that other materials having similar properties to those mentioned above can be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.  
         [0023]     From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.