Patent · US Expired

Retractable power cord

US5701981A · kind A · utility

106Cited by
16References
22Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 13, 1996
Grant dateDec 30, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 13, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02G3/18
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A retractable and extendable electrical cord, for positioning in a wall and having a hollow housing, one or more reels rotatably mounted within the hollow housing, an electrical cord wound upon each reel, a retraction spring connected to each reel for rewinding the reel to retract the cord, first and second electrical contact members mounted on the reel in spaced apart relation, and ends of the electrical cord being connected to the contacts of said reel, first and second contact rings mounted within the housing and engageable by respective first and second electrical contacts, as the reel rotates, and electrical supply connections connected to the first and second contact rings. Also disclosed is a portable electrical cord extension and retraction device which can be plugged in to a conventional wall socket so that the cord can be extended to reach an appliance, and can be retracted when not required.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.