Retractable cable assembly

Abstract

A retractable cable reel assembly that has a spring loaded cable reel which attaches to a midpoint of a cable and when rotated by the spring, winds both ends of the cable up on the cable reel. A releasable detent arrangement is used to retain a desired amount of cable extending from the assembly.

1 . A retractable assembly useful to connect electronic devices including: 
 an elongated connection having: 
 a first end portion;  
 a central portion; and  
 a second end portion;  
   a reel having: 
 a hub including: 
 a retainer engaged with said central portion; and  
 
   a case in which said reel is mounted having: 
 at least one opening out through which said elongated connection extends; and  
 an elastic member operatively connected to said case and said reel to bias said reel for rotation to wind up said elongated connection on said reel.  
   
     
     
         2 . The retractable assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said case further includes: 
 two openings for said elongated connection about 180° from each other.  
 
     
     
         3 . The retractable assembly as defined in  claim 1  further including: 
 a releasable ratchet assembly for said reel to retain said reel in a releasable fixed position so that similar lengths of said first and second portions of said elongated connection remain extended from said case.  
 
     
     
         4 . The retractable assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said reel includes: 
 a cylindrical reel side having: 
 a circular outer edge; and  
 at least one engagement surface formed in said circular outer edge, said retractable assembly further including:  
 
 a releasable ratchet assembly for said reel to retain said reel in a releasable fixed position, said releasable ratchet assembly includes: 
 a pawl positioned for engagement with said at least one engagement surface to prevent said elastic member from winding up said elongated connection;  
 elastic means to bias said pawl toward said circular outer edge; and  
 a pawl release to allow manual movement of said pawl away from said circular outer edge whereby said elastic member can wind up said elongated connection.  
 
 
     
     
         5 . The retractable assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said elongated connection is an electric wire connection between a cellular telephone and an audio annunciator.  
     
     
         6 . The retractable assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said case is generally centered on said elongated connection extending from said case.  
     
     
         7 . The retractable assembly as defined in  claim 1  further including: 
 a pawl positioned for engagement with said reel to prevent said elastic member from winding up said elongated connection;  
 elastic means to bias said pawl into engagement with said reel; and  
 a pawl release positioned outside said case to allow manual movement of said pawl away from engagement with said reel whereby said elastic member can wind up said elongated connection.  
 
     
     
         8 . The retractable assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said elongated connection is an electric wire connection between an electronic device that produces an audio output and an audio annunciator.  
     
     
         9 . A cable retractor assembly for a cellular telephone including: 
 a cable having: 
 a first end portion for connection to the cellular telephone;  
 a central portion; and  
 a second end portion including: 
 audio output means extending therefrom;  
 
   a reel having: 
 a hub including: 
 a cable retainer engaged with said central portion; and  
 
   a housing in which said reel is mounted having: 
 at least one cable opening out through which said cable extends; and  
 a spring operatively connected to said case and said reel to bias said reel for rotation in a direction to wind up said cable on said reel.  
   
     
     
         10 . The cable retractor assembly as defined in  claim 9  further including: 
 a releasable retention assembly for said reel to retain said reel in a releasable fixed position so that similar lengths of said first and second portions of said cable remain extended from said housing.  
 
     
     
         11 . The cable retractor assembly as defined in  claim 9  wherein said reel includes: 
 a reel side having: 
 an outer edge; and  
 at least one abutment surface formed in said outer edge, said cable retractor assembly further including:  
 
 a releasable ratchet assembly for said reel to retain said reel in at least one releasable fixed position, said releasable ratchet assembly including: 
 a pawl positioned for engagement with said at least one abutment surface to prevent said spring from winding up said cable;  
 means to bias said pawl toward said at least one abutment surface; and  
 a pawl release to allow manual movement of said pawl away from said circular outer edge whereby said spring can wind up said cable.  
 
 
     
     
         12 . The cable retractor assembly as defined in  claim 9  wherein said housing is generally centered on said cable between said first and second portions, said audio output means including: 
 an earpiece speaker, and said second portion also including: 
 a microphone extending therefrom spaced with respect to said ear piece speaker so that when said earpiece speaker is positioned adjacent an ear of a user, said microphone is positioned near the mouth of the user.  
 
 
     
     
         13 . The cable retractor assembly as defined in  claim 9  wherein said housing is generally cylindrical in shape and includes: 
 two openings for said cable about 180° from each other.  
 
     
     
         14 . The cable retractor assembly as defined in  claim 9  wherein said case further includes: 
 two openings for said cable opposite from each other.  
 
     
     
         15 . The cable retractor assembly as defined in  claim 9  wherein said housing is generally centered on said cable between said first and second portions, said audio output means including: 
 an earpiece speaker, and said second portion also including: 
 a microphone extending therefrom.  
 
 
     
     
         16 . An assembly for storing, winding up and extending cable, said assembly including: 
 a reel having: 
 a cable retainer for engagement with a cable; and  
   a housing in which said reel is mounted for rotation having: 
 at least one cable opening out through which opposite ends of a cable can be extended; and  
 a spring operatively connected between said case and said reel to bias said reel for rotation in a direction to wind up cable on said reel.  
   
     
     
         17 . The assembly as defined in  claim 16  further including: 
 a releasable retention assembly for said reel to retain said reel in releasable fixed positions whereby when said reel is in a fixed position, similar lengths of cable remain extended from said housing.  
 
     
     
         18 . The assembly as defined in  claim 16  wherein said case is generally cylindrical in shape and includes: 
 two openings for cable radially opposite from each other out through which opposite ends of a cable can be extended.  
 
     
     
         19 . The assembly as defined in  claim 18  wherein said reel includes: 
 a reel side having: 
 an outer edge; and  
 at least one abutment surface formed in said outer edge, said assembly further including:  
 
 a pawl positioned for engagement with said at least one abutment surface to prevent said spring from winding said reel;  
 means to bias said pawl into abutment with said at least one abutment surface; and  
 a pawl release operatively connected to said pawl for manually overcoming said means to bias to release said pawl from said at least one abutment surface, whereby said spring can wind up cable on said reel or cable can be pulled therefrom in opposite directions.  
 
     
     
         20 . The assembly as defined in  claim 16  wherein said housing is generally cylindrical in shape having: 
 a radial side surface including: 
 two openings about 180° from each other for movement of cable there through.  
 
 
     
     
         21 . The assembly as defined in  claim 16  wherein said housing is generally cylindrical in outer shape having: 
 a radial side surface including: 
 two openings about 180° from each other for movement of cable there through;  
 
 a center post for attachment of said spring, said spring being:  
 a coil spring and having:  
 a first spring end connected to said center post; and  
 a second spring end, and said reel including:  
 a cylindrical hub positioned about said coil spring whereby said second spring end is connected to said hub.  
 
     
     
         22 . The assembly as defined in  claim 16  wherein said housing includes: 
 two openings about 180° from each other for movement of cable there through; and  
 a center post for attachment of said spring, said spring being a coil spring and having:  
 a first spring end connected to said center post; and  
 a second spring end, and said reel including:  
 a hub positioned about said coil spring whereby said second spring end is connected to said hub.