Cord-reel sanitizer

Abstract

A cord-reel includes a spool for windingly receiving a cord within a spool housing interior and a sanitizer for sanitizing the spool housing interior. According to one embodiment, the sanitizer includes an ultraviolet lamp generating ultraviolet radiation, most preferably having a wavelength between approximately 250 and 260 nanometers, and a reflector redirecting ultraviolet radiation toward the spool housing interior. A control system for activating the sanitizer may include a manual actuation switch or, alternatively, may sense when a cord is unwound from the spool to activate the sanitizer. The control system may be adapted to activate the sanitizer during a predetermined activation time period. The control system may include a light indicator for visually signaling during activation of the sanitizer. The spool housing may define first and second cord openings for respective passage of first and second ends of a cord to an exterior of the spool housing.

1 . A cord-reel comprising:
 a spool housing defining an interior;   a spool rotatably supported within the spool housing interior, the spool adapted to windingly receive a cord within the spool housing interior; and   a sanitizer mounted to the housing in communication with the spool housing interior, the sanitizer adapted to sanitize the spool housing interior.   
     
     
         2 . The cord-reel according to  claim 1 , wherein the sanitizer includes a housing defining an interior that communicates with the spool housing interior and an ultraviolet light assembly located within the sanitizer housing interior, the ultraviolet light assembly including an ultraviolet light source adapted to generate ultraviolet radiation directed into the spool housing interior from the sanitizer housing interior to sanitize the spool housing interior. 
     
     
         3 . The cord-reel according to  claim 2 , wherein the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet light assembly has a wavelength in a range between approximately 200 nanometers and approximately 300 nanometers. 
     
     
         4 . The cord-reel according to  claim 3 , wherein the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet light assembly has a wavelength in a range between approximately 250 nanometers and 260 nanometers. 
     
     
         5 . The cord-reel according to  claim 2 , wherein the sanitizer housing includes a base attached to the spool housing and a cover removably mounted to the base, the base defining an internal passage communicating with an opening defined by the spool housing. 
     
     
         6 . The cord-reel according to  claim 2 , wherein the ultraviolet light source of the ultraviolet light assembly includes at least one lamp. 
     
     
         7 . The cord-reel according to  claim 2 , wherein the ultraviolet light assembly further includes a reflector defining a reflective surface arranged to redirect at least a portion of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet light source towards the spool housing interior. 
     
     
         8 . The cord-reel according to  claim 7 , wherein the reflector includes a reflective coating defining the reflective surface. 
     
     
         9 . The cord-reel according to  claim 1  further comprising a control system for controlling the activation of the sanitizer. 
     
     
         10 . The cord-reel according to  claim 9 , wherein the control system includes a manual actuation switch for manually activating the sanitizer. 
     
     
         11 . The cord-reel according to  claim 9 , wherein the control system is adapted to activate the sanitizer during a predetermined activation time period and to deactivate the sanitizer at the end of the activation time period. 
     
     
         12 . The cord-reel according to  claim 9  further comprising a cord windingly received onto the spool for winding of the cord onto the spool in a retracted cord position and unwinding of the cord from the spool in an extended cord position, and wherein the control system is adapted to sense the unwinding of the cord and to activate the sanitizer for sanitizing the spool housing interior while the cord is in the extended cord position. 
     
     
         13 . The cord-reel according to  claim 9 , wherein the control system includes a light indicator providing a visual signal when the sanitizer is activated. 
     
     
         14 . The cord-reel according to  claim 2  further comprising at least one battery for powering the ultraviolet light assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The cord-reel according to  claim 1  further comprising a cord having opposite first and second ends windingly received onto the spool within the spool housing interior, and wherein the spool housing defines first and second cord openings for respective passage of the first and second ends of the cord to an exterior of the spool housing. 
     
     
         16 . The cord-reel according to  claim 15 , wherein the cord includes a plug located at the first end of the cord and a receptacle located at the second end of the cord, and wherein the first cord opening of the spool housing is defined at a periphery of the spool housing and the second cord opening is defined in an intermediate location on the spool housing. 
     
     
         17 . The cord-reel according to  claim 1  further comprising a mounting bracket attached to the spool housing for securing the cord-reel to a fixed surface. 
     
     
         18 . A sanitizing cord-reel comprising:
 a spool housing defining an interior;   a spool rotatably supported within the spool housing interior;   a cord windingly received onto the spool within the spool housing interior; and   a sanitizer including a housing mounted to the spool housing interior, sanitizer housing defining an interior communicating with the spool housing interior,   the sanitizer including an ultraviolet light assembly adapted to generate ultraviolet radiation for sanitizing the spool housing interior.