Cable winding mechanism with reduced friction

Abstract

A cable winding mechanism with reduced friction includes a cable, a case, a reel disc, a spring device, a roller and a friction-reducing member. The case includes a first case element and a second case element, wherein a cable locking structure is formed in an inner surface of the second case element. The reel disc has a confining groove. The roller is movable along the confining groove of the reel disc. When a pulling operation of the cable causes the roller to move in the cable locking structure of the second case element, a desired length of the cable is pulled out and locked. When the roller is detached from the cable locking structure, the cable pulled outside the case is rewound on the reel disc. The friction-reducing member is disposed on the reel disc for reducing friction during the process of pulling out or rewinding the cable.

1 . A cable winding mechanism with reduced friction, said cable winding mechanism comprising:
 a cable;   a case including a first case element and a second case element, wherein a cable locking structure is formed in an inner surface of said second case element;   a reel disc disposed between said first case element and said second case element for winding said cable thereon, wherein said reel disc has a confining groove;   a spring device arranged between said first case element and said reel disc;   a roller movable along said confining groove of said reel disc, wherein a desired length of said cable is pulled out and locked when a pulling operation of said cable causes said roller to move in said cable locking structure of said second case element, and said cable pulled outside said case is rewound on said reel disc when said roller is detached from said cable locking structure; and   a friction-reducing member disposed on said reel disc for reducing friction during the process of pulling out or rewinding said cable.   
   
   
       2 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said first case element and said second case element are combined together via an ultrasonic welding technology. 
   
   
       3 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 1  further comprising two connectors respectively coupled to both ends of said cable. 
   
   
       4 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 3  further comprising:
 multiple first protrusion pieces formed on opposite sides of said first case element; and   multiple second protrusion pieces formed on corresponding locations of the inner surfaces of the second case element, wherein said first protrusion pieces and said second protrusion pieces are partially sustained against said connectors such that said connectors at both ends of said cable are partially accommodated within said case.   
   
   
       5 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 multiple first concave portions formed on opposite sidewall of said first case element; and   multiple second concave portions formed on opposite sidewall of said second case element corresponding to said first concave portions, wherein said first concave portions and said second concave portions cooperatively define multiple depressions when said first case element and said second case element are combined together.   
   
   
       6 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said second case element further includes a channel and a curved trough, said cable locking structure adjacent to said channel for anchoring said roller, and said curved trough disposed adjacent to said cable locking structure and in communication with one end of said channel for restraining a movable range of said roller. 
   
   
       7 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein a spool is extended from an inner surface of said first case element for securing said spring device and said reel disc thereon, a coupling part is disposed on said spool, and a longitudinal gap is cut through said spool. 
   
   
       8 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 7  wherein said spring device is a spiral spring having an anchoring end engaged with said longitudinal gap of said spool. 
   
   
       9 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 7  wherein a thread aperture is formed in the center of said spool and a hole is formed in said second case element corresponding to said thread aperture. 
   
   
       10 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 9  further comprising a tightness adjusting element, which is penetrated through said hole of said second case element and then screwed in said thread aperture of said spool, for controlling degree of tightness of pulling out or rewinding said cable. 
   
   
       11 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 7  wherein a retaining opening is formed in the center of said reel disc, and said reel disc is sheathed around said spool through said retaining opening such that said reel disc is fixed on said first case element. 
   
   
       12 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 11  wherein said friction-reducing member includes a ring-shaped article, which is sheathed around said coupling part of said spool of said first case element and embedded within and contacted with said retaining opening of said reel disc, for reducing the friction between said reel disc and said spool upon rotation of said reel disc. 
   
   
       13 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 12  wherein said ring-shaped article is a metallic ring. 
   
   
       14 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 1  wherein said reel disc further includes a top plate and a sidewall substantially perpendicular to said top plate. 
   
   
       15 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 14  wherein said reel disc further includes:
 a clamping part disposed on an inner surface of said top plate and in the vicinity of said sidewall such that said cable inside said reel disc is clamped between said clamping part and said sidewall; and   a first cable groove and a second cable groove formed at opposite sides of said sidewall, wherein a portion of said cable is supported in said first cable groove and said second cable groove and received within said reel disc, so that said cable extended outside said reel disc is wound around an upper portion and a lower portion of said reel disc to respectively define a first winding cable set and a second winding cable set.   
   
   
       16 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 15  wherein multiple fastening recesses are formed in said sidewall of said reel disc, and said friction-reducing member includes a partition plate having a hollow portion in the center thereof and multiple protrusion pieces corresponding to said fastening recesses. 
   
   
       17 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 16  wherein said partition plate is sheathed around and fixed onto said reel disc when said protrusion pieces are engaged with said fastening recesses, so that said first winding cable set is separated from said second winding cable set by said partition plate. 
   
   
       18 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 15  wherein a notch is formed in said sidewall of said reel disc and arranged between said first cable groove and said second cable groove, and said spring device has a hooking end engaged with said sidewall of said reel disc between said notch and said first cable groove or said second cable groove. 
   
   
       19 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 14  wherein said friction-reducing member includes at least one salient, which is arranged on said top plate of said reel disc and contacted with said second case element, for reducing the friction between said reel disc and said second case element upon rotation of said reel disc. 
   
   
       20 . The cable winding mechanism according to  claim 14  wherein said friction-reducing member includes a least one salient, which is arranged on said a bottom periphery of said sidewall of said reel disc and contacted with said first case element, for reducing the friction between said reel disc and said first case element upon rotation of said reel disc.