Motorized cable retractor

Abstract

A cable retractor includes a housing. A motorized drive section within the housing urges at least a segment of cable past the drive section. A chamber within the housing holds at least another segment of the cable that is stored freely without a specific arrangement of the cable. The motorized drive section urges the cable in a first direction to draw the at least another segment from the chamber, then past the motorized drive section, and then through an external opening in the housing to outside. The motorized drive urges the cable in a second, opposing direction to draw the another segment through the external opening in the housing from outside, then past the motorized drive section, and then into the chamber, the another segment being urged freely into the chamber without a specific arrangement of the cable in the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section; and   (c) a chamber disposed within the housing and configured to hold at least another segment of the cable, the at least another segment of the cable being stored freely therein without a specific arrangement of the cable;   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a first direction to draw the at least another segment of the cable from the chamber, then past the motorized drive section, and then through an external opening in the housing to outside of the housing, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a second, opposing direction to draw the at least another segment of the cable through the external opening in the housing from outside of the housing, then past the motorized drive section, and then into the chamber, the at least another segment of the cable being urged freely into the chamber without a specific arrangement of the cable in the chamber. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cable retractor of  claim 1 , wherein the motorized drive section further com prises
 (a) a motor driven drive roller; and   (b) an idler roller,   (c) at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller pressing against another of the drive roller and the idler roller, the at least segment of the cable being disposed between the drive roller and the idler roller;   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a first rotational direction to draw the at least portion of the cable from the chamber, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a second, opposite rotational direction to retract the at least portion of the cable into the chamber. 
   
     
     
         3 . The cable retractor of  claim 1 , further comprising
 (a) a sensor configured to detect at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of a region of the cable.   
     
     
         4 . The cable retractor of  claim 3 , further comprising
 (a) a circuit element configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the sensor detecting the at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of the region of the cable.   
     
     
         5 . The cable retractor of  claim 1 , further comprising
 (a) at least one switch configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the at least one switch being one of being activated or deactivated.   
     
     
         6 . The cable retractor of  claim 1 , further comprising
 (a) a module external to the housing and configured to be inserted into a fliptop box, the module having an opening through which the cable passes.   
     
     
         7 . The cable retractor of  claim 6 , wherein the module further comprises
 (a) a sensor disposed within the module and configured to detect at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of a region of the cable; and   (b) a circuit element disposed within the module and configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the sensor detecting the at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of the region of the cable.   
     
     
         8 . The cable retractor of  claim 6 , wherein the module further comprises
 (a) at least one switch disposed within the module and configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the at least one switch being one of being activated or deactivated.   
     
     
         9 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section, wherein the motorized drive section further comprises
 (1) a motor driven drive roller, and 
 (2) an idler roller, 
 (3) at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller pressing against another of the drive roller and the idler roller, the at least segment of the cable being disposed between the drive roller and the idler roller; and 
   (c) a chamber disposed within the housing and configured to hold at least another segment of the cable, the at least another segment of the cable being stored freely therein without a specific arrangement of the cable;   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a first rotational direction to urge the cable to draw the at least another segment of the cable from the chamber, then past the motorized drive section, and then through an external opening in the housing to outside of the housing, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a second, opposite rotational direction to urge the cable to draw the at least another segment of the cable through the external opening in the housing from outside of the housing, then past the motorized drive section, and then into the chamber, the at least another segment of the cable being urged freely into the chamber without a specific arrangement of the cable in the chamber. 
   
     
     
         10 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section, wherein the motorized drive section further comprises
 (1) a motor driven drive roller, and 
 (2) an idler roller, 
 (3) at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller pressing against another of the drive roller and the idler roller, the at least segment of the cable being disposed between the drive roller and the idler roller; 
   (c) a chamber disposed within the housing and configured to hold at least another segment of the cable, the at least another segment of the cable being stored freely therein without a specific arrangement of the cable;   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a first rotational direction to urge the cable to draw the at least another segment of the cable from the chamber, then past the motorized drive section, and then through an external opening in the housing to outside of the housing, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a second, opposite rotational direction to urge the cable to draw the at least another segment of the cable through the external opening in the housing from outside of the housing, then past the motorized drive section, and then into the chamber, the at least another segment of the cable being urged freely into the chamber without a specific arrangement of the cable in the chamber; 
   (e) a sensor configured to detect at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of a region of the cable;   (f) a circuit element configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the sensor detecting the at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of the region of the cable; and   (g) at least one switch configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the at least one switch being one of being activated or deactivated.   
     
     
         11 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section; and   (c) a circular chamber disposed within the housing and configured to hold at least another segment of the cable, including
 (1) a circular-shaped spindle located at a center of the circular chamber, the at least another segment of the cable looping around the circular-shaped spindle; 
   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a first direction to draw the at least another segment of the cable from the circular chamber, then past the motorized drive section, and then through an external opening in the housing to outside of the housing, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a second, opposing direction to draw the at least another segment of the cable through the external opening in the housing from outside of the housing, then past the motorized drive section, and then into the circular chamber, the at least another segment of the cable being urged into the circular chamber, then around the circular-shaped spindle, and then looping around itself in a circular manner. 
   
     
     
         12 . The cable retractor of  claim 11 , wherein 
 (a) a location on the cable is affixed to a location on the center spindle.   
     
     
         13 . The cable retractor of  claim 11 , wherein
 (a) when the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable into the circular chamber, the at least another segment of the cable is urged against a periphery of the circular chamber.   
     
     
         14 . The cable retractor of  claim 11 , wherein the motorized drive section further com prises
 (a) a motor driven drive roller; and   (b) an idler roller,   (c) at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller pressing against another of the drive roller and the idler roller, the at least segment of the cable being disposed between the drive roller and the idler roller;   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a first rotational direction to draw the at least portion of the cable from the circular chamber, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a second, opposite rotational direction to retract the at least portion of the cable into the circular chamber. 
   
     
     
         15 . The cable retractor of  claim 11 , further comprising
 (a) a sensor configured to detect at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of a region of the cable.   
     
     
         16 . The cable retractor of  claim 15 , further comprising
 (a) a circuit element configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the sensor detecting the at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of the region of the cable.   
     
     
         17 . The cable retractor of  claim 11 , further comprising
 (a) at least one switch configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the at least one switch being one of being activated or deactivated.   
     
     
         18 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section, wherein the motorized drive section further comprises
 (1) a motor driven drive roller, and 
 (2) an idler roller, 
 (3) at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller pressing against another of the drive roller and the idler roller, the at least segment of the cable being disposed between the drive roller and the idler roller; and 
   (c) a circular chamber disposed within the housing and configured to hold at least another segment of the cable, including
 (1) a circular-shaped spindle located at a center of the circular chamber, the at least another segment of the cable looping around the circular-shaped spindle; 
   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a first rotational direction to urge the cable to draw the at least another segment of the cable from the chamber, then past the motorized drive section, and then through an external opening in the housing to outside of the housing, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a second, opposite rotational direction to urge the cable to draw the at least another segment of the cable through the external opening in the housing from outside of the housing, then past the motorized drive section, and then into the circular chamber, the at least another segment of the cable being urged into the circular chamber, then around the circular-shaped spindle, and then looping around itself in a circular manner. 
   
     
     
         19 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section, wherein the motorized drive section further comprises
 (1) a motor driven drive roller, and 
 (2) an idler roller, 
 (3) at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller pressing against another of the drive roller and the idler roller, the at least segment of the cable being disposed between the drive roller and the idler roller; and 
   (c) a circular chamber disposed within the housing and configured to hold at least another segment of the cable, including
 (1) a circular-shaped spindle located at a center of the circular chamber, the at least another segment of the cable looping around the circular-shaped spindle; 
   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a first rotational direction to urge the cable to draw the at least another segment of the cable from the chamber, then past the motorized drive section, and then through an external opening in the housing to outside of the housing, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a second, opposite rotational direction to urge the cable to draw the at least another segment of the cable through the external opening in the housing from outside of the housing, then past the motorized drive section, and then into the circular chamber, the at least another segment of the cable being urged into the circular chamber, then around the circular-shaped spindle, and then looping around itself in a circular manner; 
   (e) a sensor configured to detect at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of a region of the cable;   (f) a circuit element configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the sensor detecting the at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of the region of the cable; and   (g) at least one switch configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the at least one switch being one of being activated or deactivated.   
     
     
         20 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section; and   (c) a chamber disposed within the housing and including
 (1) a first pulley rotatable a first axis having a fixed location adjacent to an end of the chamber, and 
 (2) a second pulley rotatable about a second axis, 
 (3) a third pulley rotatable about a third axis, 
 (4) at least one of the second pulley and the third pulley being translatable along a length of the chamber, 
 (5) the cable slidably entering the chamber at a first opening, then being partially wound around the second pulley, then being partially wound around the first pulley, then being partially wound around the third pulley, and thereafter exiting the chamber at a second opening; 
   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a first direction to extract at least a length of the cable from the chamber, the at least one translatable pulley translating toward the first pulley such that a decrease in distance between the first axis and the axis of the at least one translatable pulley is proportional to the extracted length of the cable, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a second, opposing direction to retract into the chamber the at least length of the cable through the first opening in the housing, the at least one translatable pulley translating away from the first pulley such that an increase in distance between the first axis and the axis of the at least one translatable pulley is proportional to the retracted length of the cable. 
   
     
     
         21 . The cable retractor of  claim 20 , wherein
 (a) the second pulley and the third pulley are translatable in tandem along a length of the chamber.   
     
     
         22 . The cable retractor of  claim 20 , further comprising 
 (a) a pulley carriage translatable along a length of the chamber,   (b) wherein the second pulley and the third pulley are disposed at opposite ends of the pulley carriage and are translatable with the pulley carriage.   
     
     
         23 . The cable retractor of  claim 22 , further comprising
 (a) at least one threaded lead screw extending along the length of the housing and extending through a threaded opening in the pulley carriage,   (b) the at least one threaded lead screw rotating in coordination with the motorized drive section such that
 (1) when the motorized drive section is operable to extract the at least length of the cable, the at least one threaded lead screw rotates to drive the pulley carriage the distance proportional to the extracted length of the cable toward the first pulley, and 
 (2) when the motorized drive section is operable to retract the at least length of the cable, the at least one threaded lead screw rotates to drive the pulley carriage the distance proportional to the retracted length of the cable away from the first pulley. 
   
     
     
         24 . The cable retractor of  claim 22 , further comprising
 (a) at least one guide rod extending along the length of the housing and extending through an opening in the pulley carriage,   (b) the pulley carriage being translatable along the guide rod.   
     
     
         25 . The cable retractor of  claim 20 , wherein 
 (a) the second pulley is disposed on a pulley carriage, and   (b) the third pulley is disposed atop the second pulley and coaxial with the second pulley.   
     
     
         26 . The cable retractor of  claim 25 , further comprising
 (a) at least one threaded lead screw extending along the length of the housing and extending through a threaded opening in the pulley carriage,   (b) the at least one threaded lead screw rotating in coordination with the motorized drive section such that
 (1) when the motorized drive section is operable to extract the at least length of the cable, the at least one threaded lead screw rotates to drive the pulley carriage the distance proportional to the extracted length of the cable toward the first pulley, and 
 (2) when the motorized drive section is operable to retract the at least length of the cable, the at least one threaded lead screw rotates to drive the pulley carriage the distance proportional to the retracted length of the cable away from the first pulley. 
   
     
     
         27 . The cable retractor of  claim 25 , further comprising
 (a) at least one guide rod extending along the length of the housing and extending through an opening in the pulley carriage,   (b) the pulley carriage being translatable along the guide rod.   
     
     
         28 . The cable retractor of  claim 20 , wherein the motorized drive section further com prises
 (a) a motor driven drive roller; and   (b) an idler roller,   (c) at least one of the drive roller and the idler roller pressing against another of the drive roller and the idler roller, the at least segment of the cable being disposed between the drive roller and the idler roller;   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a first rotational direction to extract the at least length of the cable from the chamber, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to rotate the drive roller in a second, opposite rotational direction to retract the at least length of the cable into the chamber. 
   
     
     
         29 . The cable retractor of  claim 20 , further comprising
 (a) a sensor configured to detect at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of a region of the cable.   
     
     
         30 . The cable retractor of  claim 29 , further comprising
 (a) a circuit element configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the sensor detecting the at least one of a presence of, an absence of, a movement of, or a lack of movement of the region of the cable.   
     
     
         31 . The cable retractor of  claim 20 , further comprising
 (a) at least one switch configured to at least one of (i) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the first direction, (ii) activate the motorized drive section to urge the cable in the second direction, or (iii) deactivate the motorized drive section, in response to the at least one switch being one of being activated or deactivated.   
     
     
         32 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section; and   (c) a chamber disposed within the housing and including
 (1) a first pulley rotatable a first axis having a fixed location adjacent to an end of the chamber, and 
 (2) a pulley carriage translatable along a length of the chamber, 
 (3) at least one threaded lead screw extending along the length of the housing and extending through a threaded opening in the pulley carriage, the at least one threaded lead screw being rotatable to drive the pulley carriage along the length of the housing, 
 (4) a second pulley rotatable about a second axis and disposed at one end of the pulley carriage, and 
 (5) a third pulley rotatable about a third axis and disposed at an opposing end of the pulley carriage, the second pulley and the third pulley being translatable with the pulley carriage, 
 (6) wherein the cable slidably enters the chamber at a first opening, then partially winds around the second pulley, then partially winds around the first pulley, then partially winds around the third pulley, and thereafter exits the chamber at a second opening; 
   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a first direction to extract at least a length of the cable from the chamber, the pulley carriage translating toward the first pulley such that a decrease in distance between the first pulley and the pulley carriage is proportional to the extracted length of the cable, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a second, opposing direction to retract into the chamber the at least length of the cable through the first opening in the housing, the pulley carriage translating away from the first pulley such that an increase in distance between the first pulley and the pulley carriage is proportional to the retracted length of the cable. 
   
     
     
         33 . A cable retractor, comprising 
 (a) a housing;   (b) a motorized drive section disposed within the housing and configured to urge at least a segment of the cable past the drive section; and   (c) a chamber disposed within the housing and including
 (1) a first pulley rotatable a first axis and having a fixed location adjacent to an end of the chamber, and 
 (2) a pulley carriage translatable along a length of the chamber, 
 (3) at least one threaded lead screw extending along the length of the housing and extending through a threaded opening in the pulley carriage, the at least one threaded lead screw being rotatable to drive the pulley carriage along the length of the housing, 
 (4) a second pulley rotatable about a second axis disposed on the pulley carriage, and 
 (5) a third pulley rotatable about a third axis and disposed at an opposing end of the pulley carriage, the second pulley and the third pulley being translatable with the pulley carriage, 
 (6) wherein the cable slidably enters the chamber at a first opening, then partially winds around the second pulley, then partially winds around the first pulley, then partially winds around the third pulley, and thereafter exits the chamber at a second opening; 
   (d) whereby
 (1) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a first direction to extract at least a length of the cable from the chamber, the pulley carriage translating toward the first pulley such that a decrease in distance between the first pulley and the pulley carriage is proportional to the extracted length of the cable, and 
 (2) the motorized drive section is operable to urge the cable in a second, opposing direction to retract into the chamber the at least length of the cable through the first opening in the housing, the pulley carriage translating away from the first pulley such that an increase in distance between the first pulley and the pulley carriage is proportional to the retracted length of the cable.