Two-way cable winding reel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a two-way cable winding reel. The reel includes a housing, a rotator, a worm spring, and a cable. The rotator has several protrusions on one side, and the housing has a movable stopper. One end of the stopper forms a pawl that extends between any two of the protrusions. The pawl permits rotation of the rotator in a first direction to extend the cable when a sufficient pulling force is applied to the cable, and prevents rotation of the rotator in a cable retraction direction so long as the pawl extends between the protrusions. The other end of the stopper protrudes through the housing such that a user may engage or disengage the stopper to cause the pawl to disengage from the protrusions and permit retraction of the cable to a desired length.

1 . A two-way cable winding reel, comprising: 
 a housing, a rotator, a worm spring and a cable;    wherein the rotator is rotatably mounted within the housing; the cable is fixed to and surrounds the rotator, and the worm spring is arranged to apply a biasing force to the rotator to cause the rotator to rotate in a direction that retracts two ends of the cable when a stopper is released;    wherein the rotator has a plurality of protrusions extending from one side; and    wherein the stopper has a first end extending from the housing so that it can be manipulated by a user, and a second end that extends between the protrusions and engages any one of the protrusions to prevent rotation of the rotator, and therefore retraction of the cable, unless the user manipulates the first end of the stopper to cause the second end to disengage said one of the protrusions.    
   
   
       2 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a round groove which receives and enables the protrusions to rotate therein.  
   
   
       3 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the stopper is pivoted at a side of the housing, and the second end of the stopper is a pawl having an inclined surface that permits rotation of the rotator when sufficient force is applied to extend the cable, and a stop surface that engages said any one of the protrusions to prevent rotation of the rotator.  
   
   
       4 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the stopper is biased by a resilient element to cause the second end to extend into the protrusions.  
   
   
       5 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each end of the cable has a terminal.  
   
   
       6 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one end of the cable is fixed to a circuit board.  
   
   
       7 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the rotator has a clip for clamping a middle portion of the cable.  
   
   
       8 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the cable is received by a first slit and a second slit on the rotator, and one end of the worm spring extends through a third slit on the rotator and hooks onto a wall within the rotator.  
   
   
       9 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the housing has an axle, and the axle further has a slit; and the other end of the worm spring is fixed in the slit of the axle.  
   
   
       10 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing has an upper opening and a lower opening that permits passage of respective ends of the cable into the housing.  
   
   
       11 . A computer peripheral device having a main body and a two-way cable winding reel, the reel further comprising: 
 a housing, a rotator, a worm spring and a cable extending from the main body of the peripheral device;    wherein the rotator is rotatably mounted within the housing; the cable is fixed to and surrounds the rotator, and the worm spring is arranged to apply a biasing force to the rotator to cause the rotator to rotate in a direction that retracts two ends of the cable when a stopper is released;    wherein the rotator has a plurality of protrusions extending from one side; and    wherein the stopper has a first end extending from the housing so that it can be manipulated by a user, and a second end that extends between the protrusions and engages any one of the protrusions to prevent rotation of the rotator, and therefore retraction of the cable, unless the user manipulates the first end of the stopper to cause the second end to disengage said one of the protrusions.    
   
   
       12 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the housing has a round groove which receives and enables the protrusions to rotate therein.  
   
   
       13 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the stopper is pivoted at a side of the housing, and the second end of the stopper is a pawl having an inclined surface that permits rotation of the rotator when sufficient force is applied to extend the cable, and a stop surface that engages said any one of the protrusions to prevent rotation of the rotator.  
   
   
       14 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the second end of the stopper is biased by a resilient element to cause the second end to extend into the protrusions.  
   
   
       15 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein each end of the cable has a terminal.  
   
   
       16 . The winding reel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein one end of the cable is fixed to a circuit board in the main body of the peripheral device.