An electrical cord reel assembly can include a spool configured to wind and unwind an electrical cord therefrom. The electrical cord reel assembly can include a motor configured to rotate the spool to wind and unwind the electrical cord about the spool. The electrical cord reel assembly can include a controller in electrical communication with the motor and the electrical cord. The controller can be configured to, in response to an unwind command, place or maintain the electrical cord in a power off state. The controller can be configured to in response to the unwind command, transmit an unwind signal to the motor to cause the motor to unwind the electrical cord from the spool. The controller can be configured to automatically place the electrical cord in a power on state based at least in part on an amount of rotation of the spool during the unwinding.
A pivotable reel assembly is disclosed. The reel assembly can include a frame comprising a base and an elongate mounting portion configured to pivot relative to the base about a pivot axis. The elongate mounting portion can include a proximal portion coupled with the base, a distal portion, and an intermediate portion between the proximal and distal portions. A spool drum can be connected with the intermediate portion of the elongate mounting portion. The spool drum can be configured to rotate about a rotational axis to spool and unspool a linear element, the rotational axis generally transverse to the pivot axis. A wheel can be connected to the distal portion of the elongate mounting portion and configured to roil about the pivot axis. The distal portion can position the wheel along a transverse axis that is generally transverse to the rotational axis and the pivot axis.
B65H 75/38 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
B65H 75/40 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
In an electrical cord reel, a rotatable member can rotate about a winding axis to spool and unspool a linear material. An input power connector can couple to an electrical power source. An output power connector on the rotatable member can couple to an electrical cord at least partially wound about the rotatable member. A switch is adjustable to allow or prevent electrical current flow from the input power connector to the output power connector. In an aspect, the electrical cord reel includes an electric cord comprising a first power wire, a second power wire, and a signal wire. A method of controlling the electric cord spool system includes energizing the first power wire and the signal wire. The method further includes determining a continuity of the signal wire. The method further includes de-energizing the first power wire when determining discontinuity of the signal wire.
A reel mounting assembly can include a base and a reel support. The base can be configured to mount to a surface. The reel support can be configured to support a reel hanging from the reel support. The base and reel support each have engagement elements configured to pivotably engage one another, such that the base and the reel support can pivot with respect to each other about at least two approximately orthogonal axes extending through the engagement elements. The reel mounting assembly can be provided in combination with a reel. The reel mounting assembly can provide self-leveling features for a reel.
B65H 75/38 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
5.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SPOOLING AND UNSPOOLING LINEAR MATERIAL
Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to spooling and unspooling linear material. Such apparatus and methods can assist the user in deploying and/or retracting linear material.
B65H 59/38 - Adjusting or controlling tension in filamentary material, e.g. for preventing snarling; Applications of tension indicators by regulating speed of driving mechanism of unwinding, paying-out, forwarding, winding, or depositing devices, e.g. automatically in response to variations in tension
B65H 75/34 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
6.
REEL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING LINEAR MATERIAL SLACK
A reel (100) comprises a motorized spool member (202) about which a linear material (122) can be wound. A housing (102) surrounds the spool member and has a port (114) through which the linear material extends. A motor controller (206) detects when the linear material is pulled from the spool member through the port, and responds by operating a motor (204) to rotate the spool member in an unwind direction. During this operation, the motor controller uses a spool sensor system (402) to detect an unwind rate at which the linear material is unwound from the spool member, uses a translation sensor system (404) to detect a pull-out rate at which the linear material is pulled through the port in the unwind direction, and adjusts the motor speed based on the detected rates, to limit a length of unwound linear material between the spool member and the port to less than a predetermined length.
B65H 75/40 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
In an electrical cord reel (10), a rotatable member(40) can rotate about a winding axis (42) to spool and unspool a linear material (25). An input power connector (22) can couple to an electrical power source (50). An output power connector (54) on the rotatable member (40) can couple to an electrical cord (25) at least partially wound about the rotatable member (40). A switch (52) is adjustable to allow or prevent electrical current flow from the input power connector (22) to the output power connector (54). One or more temperature sensors (58) detect temperature inside a housing (12) enclosing the rotatable member (40), output power connector ( 54), and a fan (62). A control system (60) activates the fan (62) if the detected temperature 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 control system (60) moves the switch (52) to an open position if the detected temperature is greater than or equal to the power shut-off threshold.
B65H 75/40 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
One embodiment involves a usage code system comprising an electrical device powered by a battery only if the battery contains a characteristic usage code. Another embodiment involves a presence confirmation device that repeatedly sends wireless query signals. The electrical device receives the query signals and responds by sending a wireless confirmation signal to the presence confirmation device. The presence confirmation generates an alert if it does not receive the confirmation signal after a certain time period after sending a query signal to the electrical device. Yet another embodiment involves a motion sensor that measures motion data from which translation of an electrical device is determined. If a net translation of the device is greater than or equal to a defined threshold, an alert system generates an alert or increases a polling rate at which new motion data is periodically received from the motion sensor.
A reel (200) includes a substantially spherical housing (220) configured to enclose a rotatable reel drum and an aperture (260) sized to closely surround a linear material (262) extending through the aperture (260). The linear material (262) is spoolable and unspoolable from the reel drum while the housing (220) encloses the reel drum. The housing (220) includes decoration (240, 242) depicting a ball indicative of a game or type of recreation, a globe, a robot, a gazmg ball, at least one flag, camouflage, foliage, diamond plate, or a race car.
B65H 75/40 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
B29C 45/14 - Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles
An apparatus (1) includes a handheld element (100, 101) and a remote control (7). The handheld element (100, 101) has a proximal end (102), a distal end (104), and an internal flow conduit. The internal flow conduit (57) extends between the proximal (102) and distal (104) ends. The internal flow conduit (57) is configured to be in fluid communication with a hose (5). The remote control (7) is integrated with the handheld element (100, 101). The remote control (7) is configured to transmit wireless data signals for controlling a plurality of devices associated with the hose. The plurality of devices may include a reel (2), a valve system (3), a valve unit (52), and/or a plurality of valves (46).
A reel (10) is provided with a housing (11) having a triangular aperture (15) for entry and removal of linear material (2) wound upon the reel drum (20). The drum (20) has a spool surface (47) onto which a linear material (2) may be wound, the spool surface (47) having two ends. The housing (11) substantially encloses the drum (20), and the drum (20) is rotatable about a drum axis (31) relative to at least a portion of the housing (11). The at least a portion of the housing (11) has a generally triangular aperture (15) sized to receive a linear material (2) wound onto the drum (20). The aperture (15) has a first side (92) oriented generally parallel to the drum axis (31), and second and third sides (94, 96) meeting at a vertex (93) generally midway between opposing ends of the spool surface (47) of the drum (20).
B65H 75/40 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
A reel (10) includes a reel drum (20) enclosed within a housing (11) comprising a first housing portion (12), a second housing portion (14), and a middle housing portion (16) positioned therebetween. A spindle member (22) has a first end (24) connected to the first housing portion (12) and a second end (26) connected to the second housing portion (14). The spindle member (22) extends through an opening (28) in the drum (20) so that the drum (20) is rotatable about a spindle axis defined by the spindle member (22). The middle housing portion (16) encircles the drum (20) and has an aperture (15) through which linear material (2) can extend, the linear material (2) of a type that may be spooled on the drum (20). The middle housing portion (16) is rotatable about the spindle axis independently of the drum (20). In preferred embodiments, the reel (10) is a cord reel and the linear material (2) is electrical cord. In preferred embodiments, the middle housing portion (16) is rotatable at least 360o about the spindle axis. In preferred embodiments, the drum (20) is powered by an electric motor (51). In preferred embodiments, the housing (11) is substantially spherical and the reel (10) further comprises one or more support structures (18, 19) that include handles (38) and are configured to prevent the housing (11) from contacting a flat surface such as a floor or wall. In preferred embodiments, one or more temperature-sensitive switches (102, 102A, 102B) are configured to shut off power to a spooled electrical cord (2) in the event that a temperature of the reel (10) exceeds a given threshold. In preferred embodiments, a solenoid (62) is provided for locking the middle housing portion (16) with respect to the first and second housing portions (12, 14) while the motor (51) is rotating in a direction to spool the linear material (2) onto the drum (20).
B65H 75/40 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
A reel assembly (100) comprises a drum (10) configured to rotate about a drum axis (X). The drum is configured to receive a linear material wrapped around a spool surface thereof as the drum rotates about the drum axis. A housing (22, 24) substantially encloses the drum, wherein a portion of the housing defines an aperture (30) configured to receive the linear material therethrough. A reciprocating mechanism (200) connects to the drum and reciprocatingly rotates the drum relative to the shell about a generally vertical axis (Y) as the drum rotates about the drum axis.
Preferred embodiments of the invention comprise an automatic reel capable assisting a user when attempting to unspool a linear material, such as a water hose. The automatic reel includes a control system (200) having a motor controller (224) capable of sensing a pulling of, or increased tension of, the linear material and capable of causing a motor (222) to rotate to unspool the linear material. In certain embodiments, the motor controller (224) tracks the length of the unspooled portion of the linear material and/or reduces the spooling speed of the motor (222) when retracting a terminal portion of the linear material.
B65H 75/34 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
B65H 75/40 - Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material mobile or transportable
The present invention relates to a system and components thereof for intelligently watering an environment. The system comprises at least one sensor for monitoring particular environmental conditions, and at least one electrically powered valve that receives wireless information signals from the sensor and controls a watering device based on the signals. Power control units repeatedly toggle the sensor and valve between powered and unpowered states to conserve energy. The power control units are configured so that the powered states of the sensor and valve overlap in time to make it possible for the valve to receive the wireless information signals from the sensor.
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