IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,983,575
Granted Patent B2
US 10,983,575 · App. 16/781,689 · Granted Apr 20, 2021

Smart cord reel

Inventors: John Alford (Kenosha, WI); Mark Schwartz (Wauconda, IL); Chris Hinojosa (Winthrop Harbor, IL)
G06F1/26B65H63/00B65H63/036B65H75/00B65H75/406B65H75/48G01R31/58H02G1/00H02G11/003H02G11/02B65H2701/3919H02G3/123H04M1/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,983,575
App. No.
16/781,689
Granted
Apr 20, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A smart cord reel cable including at least one sensor for measuring cord or cord reel usage, a memory for receiving sensor input to create usage records, and a processor for analyzing the usage records to provide information for maintenance status indication and/or usage analytics.

Claims (27)

1. A smart cord reel system comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a spool located with the housing having a central axis;

c) a slip ring comprising an inner slip ring and an outer slip ring proximate the central axis,

d) a retractable cable wound around the spool for retracting within and extending out of the housing and connected to one of the inner slip ring and the outer slip ring;

e) a stationary cable extending from the housing connected to one of the inner slip ring and the outer slip ring; wherein the inner slip ring rotatably and substantially continuously contacts the outer slip ring for transmitting between the stationary cable and the retractable cable;

f) a sensor connected to one of the spool or the retractable cable;

g) at least one memory located within the cord reel system for receiving an input from the sensor correlating to the voltage within the retractable cord; and

h) a processor electrically connected to the at least one memory for receiving data representative of the input from the sensor, and generating usage analytic records therefrom.

2. A smart cord reel system comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a spool located with the housing having a central axis;

c) a slip ring comprising an inner slip ring and an outer slip ring proximate the central axis,

d) a retractable cable wound around the spool for retracting within and extending out of the housing and connected to one of the inner slip ring and the outer slip ring;

e) a stationary cable extending from the housing connected to one of the inner slip ring and the outer slip ring; wherein the inner slip ring rotatably and substantially continuously contacts the outer slip ring for transmitting between the stationary cable and the retractable cable;

f) a sensor connected to one of the spool or the retractable cable;

g) at least one memory located within the cord reel system for receiving an input from the sensor correlating to the amperage flow within the retractable cord; and

h) a processor electrically connected to the at least one memory for receiving data representative of the input from the sensor, and generating usage analytic records therefrom.

3. A smart cord reel system comprising:

a) a housing;

b) a spool located with the housing having a central axis;

c) a slip ring comprising an inner slip ring and an outer slip ring proximate the central axis,

d) a retractable cable wound around the spool for retracting within and extending out of the housing and connected to one of the inner slip ring and the outer slip ring;

e) a stationary cable extending from the housing connected to one of the inner slip ring and the outer slip ring; wherein the inner slip ring rotatably and substantially continuously contacts the outer slip ring for transmitting between the stationary cable and the retractable cable;

f) a sensor connected to the spool;

g) at least one memory located within the cord reel system for receiving an input from the sensor correlating to the rotation of the spool within the housing; and

h) a processor electrically connected to the at least one memory for receiving data representative of the input from the sensor, and generating usage analytic records therefrom.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 23, 2025
From: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; PECO, INC.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 073227/0325 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 12, 2024
From: GREAT ROCK CAPITAL PARTNERS MANAGEMENT, LLC
To: PECO, INC.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068311/0747 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2023
From: ASTRONICS CUSTOM CONTROL CONCEPTS INC.; ASTRONICS DME LLC; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS AEROSAT CORPORATION; PECO, INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.
To: GREAT ROCK CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC
Reel/Frame 062444/0836 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2023
From: ASTRONICS AEROSTAT CORPORATION; ASTRONICS CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS & CERTIFICATION CORP.; ASTRONICS CORPORATION; PECO, INC.; ASTRONICS ADVANCED ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS CORP.; ASTRONICS TEST SYSTEMS INC.; DIAGNOSYS INC.; LUMINESCENT SYSTEMS, INC.
To: HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 062445/0342 →