Retractable cord guiding and locking devices
US4106165A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1977 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 1997 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T24/394
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An upright vacuum cleaner having an elongated handle and a cord reel biased to retract the electrical cord has a cord guiding and locking device comprising a housing having two internal cavities open at both the top and bottom thereof and opening into each other. One of the cavities is adapted to clamp onto the handle above the cord reel, and the other cavity includes a locking member pivotably mounted in an opening formed in a wall thereof. The locking member has a pair of legs disposed angularly to one another, one leg has a through slot to allow the cord to pass therethrough when the plane of the slot is substantially perpendicular to the cord but is sized to frictionally grip the cord when the plane of the slot is not substantially perpendicular thereto. The other leg is accessible at the opening for depression by an operator and a stop member restrains the first leg and the slot to substantial perpendicularity when the cord is being extended from the reel and when the second leg is depressed. Frictional contact of the cord with the sides of the slot is effective to pivot the member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.