Self-retracting reel
US11299368B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 2019 |
| Grant date | Apr 12, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/37
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A retractable reel system includes a reel, a gear assembly, a paddle wheel and a spring. The reel includes a concentric wheel shaft where the reel and wheel shaft rotate to wind and unwind a length of material from the reel. The gear assembly engages with an end of the wheel shaft to provide a gear reduction ratio between the wheel shaft and an output shaft of the gear assembly. The paddle wheel is connected to and concentric with the output shaft, and the paddle wheel includes a paddle that extends beyond an outer edge of the paddle wheel that rotates with the paddle wheel. The spring is arranged outside the outer edge of the paddle wheel. The spring is compressed by the paddle to store an energy when the reel is rotated to unwind the length of material from the reel. The stored energy is used to rotate the reel to wind the length of material around the reel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.