U.S. patent application number 11/493176 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for bucket and cord.
Invention is credited to Gary D. Otto.
Application Number | 20080023358 11/493176 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38985071 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080023358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Otto; Gary D. |
January 31, 2008 |
Bucket and cord
Abstract
A bucket and cord combination comprising a cylindrical bucket
having a predetermined diameter and height for storing an elongated
flexible cord therein between an inner cylindrical surface of the
bucket and an outer curved surface of an axial insert received in
the bucket and forming therewith an annular space for the storage
of the cord, the insert having a vertical height equal to or less
than the height of the bucket and having a diameter less than the
diameter of the bucket, the bucket having a substantially flat
circular bottom with a hole therein whose diameter is less than the
diameter of the bucket, the bottom of the insert being provided
with a flat shoulder extending horizontally outward from the
periphery of the insert to the inner periphery of the bucket and
spaced from the bottom of the bucket so as to form therewith a
doughnut shaped space for storage therein of one terminal end of
the cord, the other end of the cord extending from the lower
terminal end thereof through a hole in the flat horizontal circular
member up into the annular area between the insert and the bucket
for storage of the majority of the length of the cord therein.
Inventors: |
Otto; Gary D.; (Pryor,
OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
William S. Dorman
Suite 400, 406 South Boulder
Tulsa
OK
74361
US
|
Family ID: |
38985071 |
Appl. No.: |
11/493176 |
Filed: |
July 27, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/349 ;
206/373; 206/702 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25H 3/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/349 ;
206/373; 206/702 |
International
Class: |
A45C 11/26 20060101
A45C011/26; B65D 85/28 20060101 B65D085/28; B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A cylindrical bucket having a predetermined diameter and height
for storing an elongated flexible cable therein between an inner
cylindrical surface of the bucket and an outer curved surface of an
axial insert received in the bucket and forming therewith an
annular space for the storage of the cable, the insert having a
vertical height equal to or less than the height of the bucket and
having a diameter less than the diameter of the bucket, the bucket
having a substantially flat circular bottom with a hole therein
whose diameter is less than the diameter of the bucket, the lower
end of the insert being provided with a flat shoulder extending
horizontally outward from the periphery of the insert to the inner
periphery of the bucket and spaced from the bottom of the bucket so
as to form therewith a doughnut shaped space for storage therein of
one terminal end of the cable, the other end of the cable extending
from the lower terminal end thereof through a hole in the flat
horizontal circular member up into the annular area between the
insert and the bucket for storage of the majority of the length of
the cable therein.
2. A bucket and cable as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer
surface of the insert is tapered convergingly upwardly as to form a
substantially conical surface.
3. A bucket and cable combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein
the conical surface is provided with a slot to accommodate the end
of a tool in the interior of the insert.
4. A bucket and cable combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the cable is an electrical extension cord.
5. A bucket and cable combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the cable is a water hose.
6. A bucket and cable combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the cable is an air hose.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a storage device (bucket)
for an elongated cable, such as an electrical extension cord,
including a container and lid that allow for easy storage while
providing protection to and preventing entanglements of the
extension cord.
[0003] 2. Prior Art
[0004] Extension cords are essential accessories for residential,
industrial and commercial use of electrical items. They free
electrical devices from the requirement of only being operated
within a relatively short distance of five or six feet from a power
source. Extension cords, thus, permit the use of such electrical
devices at distances of twenty-five, fifty or even more feet away
from the power source. Electricians or other workers who use
electrical extension cords in lengths of twenty-five feet, fifty
feet or other substantial lengths understand the difficulty and
inconvenience of unwinding the cord in use and also rewinding the
cord for storage purposes because such cords are difficult to keep
under control. The receptacle ends of the cords become easily
entangled within the length of the cord itself. In some instances
workers have become so frustrated with tangled cords that they have
simply thrown them away rather than take the time to untangle the
cord.
[0005] Whether the cord becomes tangled or not, workers spend a
considerable amount of time unwinding and rewinding the cords. In
addition, workers have no convenient place to store the cords
either on the job site or in their truck/vehicles.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 6,968,955 shows a storage device for an
electrical extension cord having a male end and a female end. The
storage device includes a cylindrical container which could be
broadly described as a bucket, the cord being wound inside the
bucket.
[0007] Meyer U.S. Pat. No. 4,875,878 shows a bucket where a cord
can be wound partially inside of the bucket.
[0008] Listenberger U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,457 shows a bucket where
the cord is wound in spiral fashion inside the bucket.
[0009] Cannon U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,067 shows a cord and bucket
combination referred to as a "cord caddy" wherein the cord is
partially wound on the outside of the bucket and partially on the
inside of the bucket.
[0010] Douglas U.S. Pat. No. 4,984,685 shows a cord and bucket
combination wherein the bucket is provided with a central
cylindrical device and wherein the cord is wound inside the bucket
in the annular space between the cylindrical cord and the bucket
itself.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention includes a bucket and cord combination
wherein the bucket is provided with an insert having a central
axial member which, considered in light of the interior cylindrical
shape of the bucket, provides an annular space wherein the cord is
stored. The insert need not be exactly cylindrical but can be
provided with a slight taper as shown. The bottom of the insert
connects with a flat circular plate which is disposed above the
bottom of the bucket in parallel relation thereto. The bucket has a
central hole in the bottom. The circular plate at the bottom of the
insert, considered in light of the bottom of the bucket with the
hole therein provides a doughnut shaped space in which the coil or
pig tail end of the cord may be stored while the remainder of the
cord is stored above the plate in the annular space between the
insert and the bucket.
[0012] For the purpose of providing a convenient location for an
electrical tool, for example, an electrical drill, the side of the
insert is provided with a slot from which the end of the tool may
protrude into the annular space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of all of the parts which
comprise the bucket and cord.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a transverse view of the top of the insert looking
along viewing line 2-2 of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a transverse view of the top of the bucket looking
along viewing line 3-3 of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of all of the components
shown in FIG. 1 except for the lid, with the elements being
associated in their normal conditions of use.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view taken along section
line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a transverse view taken along viewing line 6-6 of
FIG. 4 showing the cord wound up inside of the bucket in the
annular space between the insert and the bucket itself.
[0019] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the insert itself.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the bucket in section showing
the cord loosely wound around the insert in the annular space
between the insert and the bucket.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a bucket 10 preferably made of plastic and
about one foot in diameter or slightly less and approximately
eighteen to twenty inches high. The bucket 10 is used to store an
elongated cable, such as an electrical cord 12, which in this case,
is approximately fifty feet in length. When the cord 12 is stored
in the bucket 10, a lid 14 may be used to cover the top of the
bucket.
[0022] In order to provide an ease of storing of the cord 12 in the
bucket 10, a tapered conical insert 16 is fitted into the bucket so
as to provide an annular space 18 into which the majority of the
cord 12 may be coiled (see now FIG. 4). Actually, the insert 16 can
be cylindrical or it can be provided with a slight taper as shown.
The lower end of the insert 16 is provided with a horizontal
circular shoulder (plate) 20 to which is attached a short
cylindrical skirt 22 which is adapted to fit against the bottom
inside of the bucket 10 when the insert 16 is fitted all the way
in, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The bottom of the bucket 10 is
provided with a hole 24 which, in combination with the shoulder 20
and skirt 22 provide a doughnut shaped space 26 in which the lower
end, or pig tail 28, of the cord may be coiled. The circular
shoulder 20 is provided with a hole 30 through which the cord 12
passes, the majority of the cord 12 being coiled in the annular
space between the insert 16 and the bucket 10 and the remainder or
pig tail section 28 being coiled in the doughnut shaped section
26.
[0023] In order to move the bucket conveniently from one location
to another, a bail or handle 36 is provided. Generally, when one is
wanting to use the cord 12 in the bucket 10, the latter is moved
through the use of the handle 36 and transported to a place where
the bucket 10 is allowed to rest on its side as shown in FIG. 8.
The pig tail 28 can be connected to an electrical slot and the
portion of the cord 12 which is stored in the annular space 28 can
be paid out of the bucket by merely pulling lightly on the cord 12
as it unwinds from the insert 16.
[0024] In order to permit storage of a tool such as a drill 32
(shown in FIG. 4) the main body of the insert 16 is provided with a
U-shaped slot 34 which permits the drill 32 to be carried in the
interior of the insert 16 with the nose of the drill projecting out
through the slot 34.
[0025] Although this disclosure refers to a cable broadly and to an
electrical extension cord 12 specifically, other types of cables
can be employed in this bucket & cable combination; for
example, the cable referred to herein can be a water hose or an
hydraulic (air) hose. The bucket 10, which has been described as
being made of plastic material is preferably made of
polypropylene.
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