IP Library Granted Patent US 11,650,643
Granted Patent B2
US 11,650,643 · App. 17/233,780 · Granted May 16, 2023

Smart cord reel

Inventors: John Alford (Kenosha, WI); Mark Schwartz (Wauconda, IL); Chris Hinojosa (Winthrop Harbor, IL)
Assignee: Konnectronix, Inc.
G06F1/26B65H63/00B65H63/036B65H75/00B65H75/406B65H75/48G01R31/58H02G1/00H02G11/003H02G11/02B65H2701/3919H02G3/123H04M1/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,650,643
App. No.
17/233,780
Granted
May 16, 2023
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 (21)

1. A smart cord reel system which communicates with at least one remote device having a memory and at least one remote device haring a processor, the 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 fits' 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; and

f) A sensor connected to one of the spool or the retractable cable, wherein the sensor provides an input to the memory on the at least one remote device having a memory, the input correlating to the voltage within the retractable cord, and the memory on the at least one remote device having a memory communicates with the processor on the at least one remote device having a processor so as to generate usage analytic records therefrom.

2. A smart cord reel system which communicates with at least one remote device having a memory and a processor, the 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 rotatabiy and substantially continuously contacts the outer slip ring for transmitting between the stationary cable and the retractable cable; and

f) a sensor connected to one of the spool or the retractable cable wherein the sensor provides an input to the memory on the at least one remote, the input correlating to the voltage within the retractable cord, and the memory on the at least one remote device communicating with the processor on the at least one remote device so as to generate usage analytic records therefrom.

3. A smart cord reel system which communicates with at least one remote device having a memory and a processor, the smart cord reel system comprising:

a) a housing;

h) 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; and

f) a sensor connected to the spool, wherein the sensor provides an input to the memory on the at least one remote device, the input correlating to the voltage within the retractable cord, and the memory on the at least one remote device communicating with the processor on the at least one remote device so as to generate 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 →