Patent ID: 8878397

Claim:
An electrical cord reel comprising: a rotatable member configured to rotate about a winding axis to spool and unspool a linear material about the rotatable member; an input power connector configured to be mechanically and electrically coupled to an electrical power source; an output power connector on the rotatable member, the output power connector configured to be mechanically and electrically coupled to an electrical cord that is at least partially wound about the rotatable member, the reel configured to convey electrical current from the input power connector to the output power connector; a fan; a switch having a closed position in which electrical current flows from the input power connector to the output power connector through the switch, the switch having an open position in which the switch prevents electrical current from flowing from the input power connector to the output power connector; a housing enclosing the rotatable member, the output power connector, and the fan; a set of one or more temperature sensors configured to detect temperature inside the housing; and a control system responsive to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor set, the control system configured to activate the fan if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor set rises from a level below a fan-activation threshold to a level above the fan-activation threshold but below a power shut-off threshold, the power shut-off threshold being greater than the fan-activation threshold, the control system configured to move the switch to its open position if the temperature detected by the temperature sensor set is greater than or equal to the power shut-off threshold.