WINDING REEL FOR WIRE, CABLE, ETC.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for coiling, respectively uncoiling a wire, cable or suchlike, comprising a housing with a central part therein, which housing comprises two housing parts which are rotatably connected in relation to each other around a spindle and which interconnect while forming a space around the central part for storing the coiled wire, in which the housing contains a slit extending mainly parallel along the central part, which slit consists of two slit parts each made in one of the two housing parts, in which during coiling a wire part extending through both slit parts into the housing is pulled further into the housing and coiled around the central part.

[0002] Such a device is known from US-A-4 390 142. In this known device the space between the housing and the central part comprises a rotatable disc. The rotatable disc ifself has a slot for gripping a part of the wire. The housing is at its perimetrical side provided with a slit through which a wire loop can be inserted into the housing, which wire loop then needs to be put into the slot in the rotatable disc. By subsequently rotating the disc relative to the housing, for the purpose of which the disc is operable from outside the housing, the wire is pulled further into the housing and coiled around the central part. It is noted that the two housing parts according to US-A-4 390 142 can be rotated relative to each other. This relative rotation, however, is limited to a maximum of 180°, because each housing part has cooperating means for limiting the relative rotation therebetween. The purpose of this limited relative rotation is that the ends of a coiled wire part can be brought in line with each other, so that it appears that the wire goes in on one side of the device and comes out diametrically on the other side of the device.

[0003] Another device for coiling a wire is known from US-A-3 084 886. This device also comprises two housing parts defining a space around a central part, in which space a rotatable disc is placed similarly to the mentioned US-A-4 390 142. The disc comprising the slot in this device, however, is spring tensioned by means of a rubber band extending inside the central part. By releasing the disc so that it can rotate freely under the influence of the tensioned rubber band a wire can be coiled around the central part. The two housing parts according to US-A-3 084 886 can not be rotated relative to each other.

[0004] A disadvantage of these known devices is that they comprise many complex components. Furthermore the many components of the devices are difficult to assemble and disassemble, and relatively expensive to make. Also the wire loop has to pass through both the slit in the housing and the slot in the disc, which therefore need to be aligned with each other before the wire loop can be inserted. Therefore a coiling operation with the known devices is a complex and a time consuming operation. The object of the present invention is to provide a device for coiling respectively uncoiling a wire in which these disadvantages are eliminated.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the two parts being freely rotatably connected to each other such that merely by rotating the two housing parts relative to each other the wire is pulled further into the housing and coiled around the central part. The housing parts of the device according to the invention can be rotated over many 360° turns relative to each other, and therefore take over the function of the rotatable disc according to US-A-4 390 142. The invention therefore is based on the insight that a device for coiling respectively uncoiling a wire, cable or suchlike does not need a separate rotatable disc that needs to be incorporated inside the housing and that needs to be operable from outside the housing. This makes the device according to the invention much more simple and cheap to make.

[0006] The housing of the device according to the invention which is formed by the housing parts, may be of any shape, for example spherical. More specifically, the two housing parts together form the shape of a closed flat box with a perimetrical side mainly defining the height of the flat box, as well as an upper and lower side, in which the slit parts in the perimetrical side extend to at least the thickness of the wire to be coiled in the top and bottom side mainly in the direction of the central part. Because of this, the wire parts can be held more effectively in the separate slit parts and the single wire parts can be coiled around both sides of the middle of the central part.

[0007] The wire parts can be held better in the separate slit parts if the slit parts are provided with separating elements which can be pivoted or bent in two ways in relation to the housing parts.

[0008] The wire parts can be held even better in the separate slit parts if the slit parts which continue in the top and bottom side, on their ends turned away from the perimetrical side, each contain a part that forms an angle with the starting direction of the slit part, and the angled part in the bottom side and the angled part in the top side are directed in opposite directions to one another.

[0009] As stated the device contains two housing parts which can rotate in relation to one another, and which interconnect while forming a space around the central part for receiving the wire. The central part in said device can be an integrated component of one of the two housing parts, so that the device in its simplest form contains only two parts. The connection of the parts can be made by a snap-fit joint that permits rotation, makes a simple mounting possible and which can disconnect when too much tension is applied to it, for example when somebody's foot gets stuck behind the wire. Additionally the snap-fit joint can also be disconnected by a component such as a knob, which can be operated from the outside of the housing. Other joints, like a pin with security rings, remain possible. The connection of the circumferential rims of the housing parts, that rotate in relation to one another, can be made in such a way that they ratchet into each other, to prevent an inconvenient shifting of the housing parts, for example by a groove in one rim and a cam fitting into it on the other rim.

[0010] The central part can be made hollow and be put on a rod or something similar.

[0011] In a particular embodiment the central part can rotate freely in relation to the two housing parts. Because of this, the whole device can be moved easily over the wire after a portion of the wire has already been coiled. Hence it is no longer necessary to place the device exactly in the middle of the wire to be coiled.

[0012] The housing parts can be supplied with a profile on the outside. This results in a better grip and makes the housing parts stronger.

[0013] In a particular embodiment, aids are fitted on the top and bottom side, with which aids multiple devices can be coupled to one another.

[0014] To reduce friction, bearings or friction reducing synthetic materials can be installed between the rotating parts.

[0015] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawing, in which:

Figure 1a, b and c respectively show a front view, a side view and a cross-section along the line A-A' of an embodiment of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2a and b respectively show a front view and a side view of an embodiment in which a profile has been applied to the housing parts;

Figure 3 shows two coupled devices according to the invention.

[0016] In figure 1 the device consists of a housing 1 that has the shape of a closed flat box. Housing 1 consists of two parts 10, 11 which can rotate in relation to one another, that connect to each other while forming a space around central part 12. The perimetrical sides of the housing parts contain slit parts 13 for taking and positioning the wire. By turning the first part 10 and the second part 11 in relation to one another the wire is coiled around the central part 12. Before inserting the wire into the slit, the slit parts 13 need to be positioned in relation to one another in such a way, that they form a single continuous slit into which the wire can be inserted. To be able to better retain the wire in the separate slit parts 13, these can extend themselves for at least the thickness of the wire to be coiled in the top and bottom side of housing 1 and contain, if desired, a part 14 that forms an angle (for example of 90°) with the starting direction of slit parts 13, of which the part in the bottom side and the part in the top side are in opposite directions. The central part 12 can be rigidly fixed to one of the housing parts 10, 11 or turn freely in relation to both housing parts 10, 11. Arrow 15 shows the turning direction of the housing part 10 for coiling the wire.

[0017] In Fig. 2 housing 1 is supplied on the outside with a profile 50 for a better grip and stronger construction.

[0018] In Fig. 3 on the top and bottom sides of the housing there are aids 60 for coupling more devices to one another.

Claims

1. A device for coiling, respectively uncoiling a wire, cable or suchlike, comprising a housing (1) with a central part (12) therein, which housing (1) comprises two housing parts (10, 11) which are rotatably connected in relation to each other around a spindle and which interconnect while forming a space around the central part (12) for storing the coiled wire, in which the housing (1) contains a slit extending mainly parallel along the central part (12), which slit consists of two slit parts (13) each made in one of the two housing parts (10, 11), in which during coiling a wire part extending through both slit parts (13) into the housing is pulled further into the housing and coiled around the central part (12), characterized by, the two housing parts (10, 11) being rotatably connected to each other such that merely by rotating the two housing parts (10, 11) relative to each other the wire is pulled further into the housing and coiled around the central part (12).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized by, the two housing parts (10, 11) together forming the shape of a closed flat box with a perimetrical side mainly defining the height of the flat box, as well as an upper and lower side, in which the slit parts (13) in the perimetrical side extend to at least the thickness of the wire to be coiled in the top and bottom side mainly in the direction of the central part (12).

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized by, the slit parts (13) which continue in the top and bottom side, on their ends turned away from the perimetrical side, each containing a part (14) that forms an angle with the starting direction of the slit parts (13), and the angled part (14) in the bottom side and the angled part (14) in the top side are directed in opposite directions to one another.

4. A device according to any of claims 1-3, characterized by, the central part (12) being freely rotable in relation to the two housing parts (10, 11).

5. A device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised by, the two housing parts (10, 11) being supplied on the outside with a profile (50).

6. A device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by, aids (60) being fitted on the top and bottom side, with which aids (60) multiple devices can be coupled to one another.

7. A device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized by, means being provided between the rotating parts for reducing friction.

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized by, the means for reducing friction being either bearings or friction reducing synthetic materials.

Ansprüche

1. Vorrichtung zum Auf- bzw. Abwickeln eines Drahts, Kabels oder dergleichen mit einem ein zentrales Teil (12) enthaltenden Gehäuse (1) bestehend aus zwei Gehäuseteilen (10,11), die frei gegeneinander um eine Spindel drehbar verbunden sind und um das zentrale Teil (12) herum einen Raum für die Lagerung des aufgewickelten Drahts bilden, wobei das Gehäuse (1) einen Schlitz enthält, der im wesentlichen parallel entlang des zentralen Teils (12) verläuft und aus zwei Teilschlitzen (13) in je einem der beiden Gehäuseteile (10, 11) gebildet wird, wobei während des Aufwickelns ein Drahtabschnitt, der durch beide Teilschlitze (13) in das Gehäuse verläuft, weiter in das Gehäuse hineingezogen und um das zentrale Teil (12) herum aufgewickelt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die beiden Gehäuseteile (10, 11) so drehbar miteinander verbunden sind, daß allein durch Drehung der beiden Gehäuseteile (10, 11) bezüglich einander der Draht weiter in das Gehäuse gezogen und um das zentrale Teil (12) gewickelt wird.

2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die beiden Gehäuseteile (10,11) gemeinsam eine geschlossene flache Dose mit einer im wesentlichen die Höhe der flachen Dose definierenden Umfangsseite und einer Ober-und einer Unterseite bilden, wobei die in der Umfangsseite vorhandenen Teilschlitze (13) zumindest um eine der Dicke des aufzuwickelnden Drahts entsprechende Strecke in die Ober-und Unterseite im wesentlichen zum zentralen Teil (12) hin verlängert sind.

3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die sich auf die Ober- und Unterseite verlängernden Teilschlitze (13) an ihren von der Umfangsseite abgewandten Enden jeweils einen Bereich (14) aufweisen, der einen Winkel mit der ursprünglichen Richtung der Teilschlitze (13) bildet, wobei der abgewinkelte Bereich (14) an der Unterseite und der abgewinkelte Bereich (14) an der Oberseite in entgegengesetzte Richtungen abgewinkelt sind.

4. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das zentrale Teil (12) bezüglich der beiden Gehäuseteile (10, 11) frei drehbar ist.

5. Vorrichtung nach einem beliebigen der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die beiden Gehäuseteile (10, 11) an ihrer Außenseite mit einem Profil (50) versehen sind.

6. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Hilfsorgane (60) an der Ober-und Unterseite angebracht sind, mit deren Hilfe mehrere Vorrichtungen miteinander gekoppelt werden können.

7. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß Mittel zur Verringerung der Reibung zwischen den gegeneinander drehenden Teilen vorgesehen sind.

8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die die Reibung verringernden Mittel entweder Lager oder die Reibung verringernde Kunststoffmaterialien sind.

Revendications

1. Dispositif pour enrouler, respectivement dérouler un fil, un câble ou analogue, comprenant un boîtier (1) avec une partie centrale (12) à l'intérieur, ledit boîtier (1) comportant deux parties de boîtier (10,11) qui sont connectées de façon tournante l'une par rapport à l'autre autour d'un axe et qui s'accouplent tout en définissant un espace autour de la partie centrale (12) pour le stockage du fil enroulé, dans lequel le boîtier (1) comporte une fente s'étendant principalement parallèlement le long de la partie centrale (12), ladite fente étant constituée de deux parties de fente (13) prévues chacune dans une des deux parties de boîtier (10,11), et dans lequel, pendant l'enroulement, une partie de fil traversant les deux parties de fente (13) et pénétrant dans le boîtier est tirée davantage dans le boîtier et enroulée autour de la partie centrale (12), caractérisé en ce que les deux parties de boîtier (10,11) sont connectées l'une à l'autre de façon tournante de sorte que, simplement par rotation des deux parties de boîtier (10,11) l'une par rapport à l'autre, le fil est tiré davantage à l'intérieur du boîtier et enroulé autour de la partie centrale (12).

2. Dispositif suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que les deux parties de boîtier (10, 11) définissent ensemble la forme d'une boîte plate fermée ayant un côté périmétrique qui définit principalement la hauteur de la boîte plate, ainsi qu'un côté supérieur et un côté inférieur, dans lequel les parties de fente (13) dans le côté périmétrique s'étendent au moins jusqu'à l'épaisseur du fil à enrouler, dans le côté supérieur et le côté inférieur, principalement dans la direction de la partie centrale (12).

3. Dispositif suivant la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les parties de fente (13) se continuent dans le côté supérieur et le côté inférieur, à leurs extrémités tournées à l'opposé du côté périmétrique, comportant chacune une partie (14) qui forme un angle avec la direction de départ des parties de fente (13), et la partie formant un angle (14) dans le côté inférieur et la partie formant un angle (14) dans le côté supérieur sont dirigées dans des directions mutuellement opposées.

4. Dispositif suivant une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce que la partie centrale (12) peut tourner librement par rapport aux deux parties de boîtier (10,11).

5. Dispositif suivant une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les deux parties de boîtier (10,11) sont pourvues d'un profil (50) sur l'extérieur.

6. Dispositif suivant une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que des raccords (60) sont prévus sur le côté supérieur et le côté inférieur, ces raccords (60) permettant d'accoupler mutuellement plusieurs dispositifs.

7. Dispositif suivant une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que des moyens sont prévus entre les parties rotatives pour réduire le frottement.

8. Dispositif suivant la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de réduction du frottement sont des paliers ou des matières synthétiques réduisant le frottement.

Drawing