Abstract:
A cord reel including a body having two side walls on opposing sides for receiving a cord therebetween, at least one hole within the body extending inward from each of the side walls, and wherein the body is adjustable to increase or decrease a distance between the two end walls.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/775,447, entitled CORD REEL and filed on Mar. 8, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to electrical cord holding devices and apparatus for efficiently and effectively preventing cords from tangling during usage and/or winding. 
     2. Background Art 
     Electrical cords are well known and are used to provide electrical current to a number of devices. A number of electrical cord storage devices are known for transit or non-transit storage. Transit cord holding devices may be as simple as a flat, rectangular plastic device with alignment portions for ensuring the cord properly wraps around the holder. Permanently mounted devices may include a rotatable component for more easily winding up the electrical cord on the cord reel. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of this disclosure relate to a cord reel including a body having two side walls on opposing sides for receiving a cord therebetween, at least one hole within the body extending inward from each of the side walls, and wherein the body is adjustable to increase or decrease a distance between the two sidewalls. 
     Aspects and applications of the disclosure presented here are described below in the drawings and detailed description. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explain how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventors&#39; intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims. 
     The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above. 
     The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those artisans of ordinary skill in the art from the DESCRIPTION and DRAWINGS, and from the CLAIMS. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cord reel removed from a base and without a cord thereon. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cord reel with the knob rotated outward. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the cord reel. 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken generally about line A-A in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIGS. 5A-5D  are various views of an arm mount. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the cord reel in the widest position. 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of the cord reel in the middle position. 
         FIG. 8  is a front view of the cord reel in the smallest position 
         FIG. 9  is a plurality of cord reels stacked on top of each other. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view of the cord reel mounted on a reel base with an electrical cord positioned on the reel. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the cord reel with an electrical cord thereon and one end of the electrical cord positioned in a never flap feature. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the cord reel with an electrical cord thereon. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded view of the cord reel and the reel base. 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the cord reel and the reel base. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective side view of the cord reel with a base knob positioned within the cord reel. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific components or assembly procedures disclosed herein. Many additional components and assembly procedures known in the art consistent with the intended operation and assembly procedures for a cord reel will become apparent for use with implementations of a cord reel from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular components are disclosed, such components and other implementing components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, measurement, concentration, material, quantity, and/or the like as is known in the art for such implementing components, consistent with the intended operation of a cord reel. 
       FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate various views of reel  20 . Reel  20  may include a first portion  22  and a second portion  24 , with cord regions  26  and  28  on the first portion and second portion, respectively. Cord regions  26  and  28  are generally defined by an outer surface of the first and second portions with a pair of end walls  30  defining a perimeter of the cord regions. At least one end wall may include a knob  32  which is pivotably rotatable about knob pivot  44  so that the knob can be retained within clips  34 , thereby allowing the cord reel  20  to be rotated. The same end wall  30  may include a plurality of apertures  36  with retainers  38  extending at least partially over the apertures. The retainers may also include a hook  40  for better retaining an electrical cover between end wall  30 , apertures  36 , retainers  38 , and hooks  40 . Both end walls  30  may include holes  42  which may extend only partially within the respective first and second portions or all the way through both the first and second portions. Further, hole  42  may include a knob recess  46  arranged to receive knob  32  which pivoted about knob pivot  44  to both secure an electrical cable partially between knob  32  and end wall  30  as well as connect the cord reel to a base knob as will be described in greater detail below. 
       FIGS. 3 through 5D  specifically highlight arm mount  48  positionable within hole  42  for allowing the operator to support the cord reel  20  while still allowing rotation of the cord reel for purposes of wrapping a cord around the cord regions  26  and  28 . Further, arm mount  48  may include a recess  50  complimentary shaped to receive one of the first or second portions  22  and  24  and a back edge  52 , a front edge  54 , a grip  56 , and a rest  58 . In operation, back edge  52  is contacted with by a user&#39;s fingers while front edge  54  and grip  56  may be contacted by a user&#39;s fingers or palm. Rest  58  may function as an area for a user&#39;s palm or wrist to help support the cord reel weight. The arm mount  48  may also include a lip  60  protruding beyond an edge of the end wall  30  to further connect the arm mount  48  to the cord reel. Advantageously, the arm mount  48  allows relative rotational movement between the arm mount  48  and the cord reel  20 . 
     Second portion  24  may include a plurality of slots, specifically a first slot  62 , a second slot  64 , and a third slot  66  spaced from the end wall inwards. The first portion  22  may include at least one locking tab  68  arranged for selective engagement with the plurality of slots. Advantageously, there may be multiple slots positioned around the second portion  24  at each of the slot positions and there may be multiple locking tabs  68  as well. In one particular implementation, there are two slots  62 , two slots  64 , two slots  66 , and two locking tabs  68 , with each of the slots and tabs positioned 180 degrees for the corresponding slot or tab. This arrangement ensures there is not relative movement between the first and second portions if not desired. As can be seen, by locating the locking tab  68  in various slots, the width between end walls  30  can be varied to support shorter or longer electrical cables and the surface area of cord surface  70  may be changed. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates the cord reel  20  in the widest position with locking tab  68  positioned within slot  66 , while  FIG. 7  illustrates cord reel  20  in an intermediate position with locking tab  68  positioned within slot  64 , and  FIG. 8  illustrates cord reel  20  in the narrowest position with locking tab  68  positioned within slot  62 . While only three slots and positions are shown, it is within the spirit and scope of the disclosure to incorporate any number of slots and locking tabs or a suitable infinitely adjustable mechanism between the cord reel portions to fine tune the overall width of the cord reel. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a plurality of cord reels  20  stacked on top of one another so that a longer cord can be secured therein or to better organize a workspace. Specifically, the end walls of the cord reels may each include different sizes. For example, the first portion may have an end wall of a first size, while the opposing second portion have an end wall of a second size slightly smaller or slightly larger than the first size. Advantageously, this allows two or more adjacent cord reels to be frictionally stacked together. Alternatively, the end walls may include snap together or locking features not specifically shown, but envisioned within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 10  illustrates cord reel  20  with cord  74  on cord base  76 . Cord base  76  may include base legs  78  and a base mount  80  having base apertures  82  therein for securing the base to a vehicle or floor, for example. Further, a base knob  84  may be utilized to further connect the cord reel  20  to reel base  80  as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate the cord reel  20  with cord  74  thereon and utilizing the “never-flap” feature, whereby the electrical cord  74  is passed through at least one aperture  36  from the cord surface  70  to outside the end wall  30 . The cord is then routed between end wall  30  and retainers  38 , apertures  36 , and held in place with the assistance of hooks  40 . Advantageously, this arrangement allows the user to store several feet of the extension cord outside of the cord surface  70  to prevent the first wrapped end from rotating wildly and contacting the user or objects around the reel during the wind-up process. Further, the “never-flap” feature allows the user to have an immediate and readily available portion of the electrical cable for connecting the electrical cable to an outlet without having to unwind the entire cord reel. 
       FIGS. 13-15  illustrate various exploded and assembled views of the cord reel  20  on reel base  76 . Further, base knob  84  is shown in greater detail with a crank  86  for rotating the cord reel on the reel base and a base knob body  90  extending from one end of the base to the other end and terminating with a base knob indent  92  partially secured within base mounting cylinder  94  which also may include a through hole opening. Base  76  also includes a base mounting aperture  88  such that cord reel  20  is mounted to the base between base mounting aperture  88  and base mounting cylinder  94 . 
     In operation, base knob  84  is inserted through the first portion  22  and second portion  24  until it extends roughly even with end wall  30  or remains within hole  42 . Advantageously, this arrangement allows knob  32  to be pivotable downwards into base knob indent  92 . Accordingly, when base knob crank  86  rotates base knob  84 , the contact between indent  92  and knob  36  forces cord reel  20  to rotate on base  76  during a winding step. Further, the base knob  84  is insertable within hole  42  without pivoting knob  32  for easier operation. 
     Additional features of the cord reel include end walls  30  which may be generally circular in shape with flat spots for preventing the cord reel from rolling away from the user. Further, the cord reel may be formed of any suitable material, such as plastic for example and may be manufactured of several smaller parts with the purchaser assembling the final cord reel to reduce shipping sizes. 
     Throughout the disclosure, end walls  30  are described using the same reference. It should be appreciated that each end walls  30  may be modified to include or exclude the various components, including apertures  36 , retainers  38 , and hooks  40 . Accordingly, these components allow the cord reel to easily retain electrical cords against the end walls  30  as well as allow the various cord reels to be easily connected. 
     It will be understood that implementations are not limited to the specific components disclosed herein, as virtually any components consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for a cord reel may be utilized. Components may comprise any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, grade, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of a method and/or system implementation for a cord reel. 
     The concepts disclosed herein are not limited to the specific implementations shown herein. For example, it is specifically contemplated that the components included in a particular implementation of a cord reel may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations that can readily be formed into shaped objects and that are consistent with the intended operation of a cord reel. For example, the components may be formed of: rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; polymers and/or other like materials; plastics, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals and/or other like materials; alloys and/or other like materials; and/or any combination of the foregoing. 
     Furthermore, embodiments of the cord reel may be manufactured separately and then assembled together, or any or all of the components may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled or removably coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material(s) forming the components. 
     In places where the description above refers to particular implementations of a cord reel, it should be readily apparent that a number of modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and that these implementations may be applied to other cord reels. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure set forth in this document. The presently disclosed implementations are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the disclosure being indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning of and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.