Cable Winding System with Crank Lock and Segmented Reel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long electrical wires, cables, and cords tend to tangle and knot when coiled, causing delays, damage, and safety hazards, and lack effective solutions for easy unwinding and protection during storage.
Innovation Solution
A winding and storage system with a circular housing, a reel mechanism, and a hand crank assembly that allows for easy coiling and uncoiling of cables, featuring a cover with locking holes and a drive spool mechanism to manage cable tension and prevent physical damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cables are coiled manually or tossed into a pile for storage, then storage is simple and quick, but the cables become tangled, knotted, and damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is segmented from the tangled mass by guiding it through a structured path defined by the housing cable slot and reel cable slot, ensuring it winds onto the reel in an organized manner rather than forming random tangles
Solution Approach 2:
The reel acts as an intermediary device between the cable and storage space, providing a controlled winding surface that prevents direct contact between cable sections that would cause tangling, while the housing serves as the intermediary storage structure
2Volume of stationary object
If cables are wound tightly to save space, then storage density improves, but tension twists are induced causing tangles and knots
Solution Approach 1:
The reel provides a curved cylindrical surface for winding the cable, which naturally distributes tension evenly around the cable rather than creating sharp bends or kinks that occur with flat or angular winding surfaces, thereby preventing tension twists and tangles
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the winding parameter by providing a controlled reel diameter and structured cable path, which modifies the tension distribution and winding geometry to prevent the formation of tension twists while maintaining compact storage
3Ease of operation
If cables are left loose or coiled without protection, then accessibility is improved, but they become subject to physical damage and safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The cable is nested within the housing structure by winding it onto the reel that is contained within the housing, providing protective enclosure while maintaining the ability to access and deploy the cable through the exit port when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The cable is preliminarily wound onto the reel in an organized manner before storage, creating a protected and orderly configuration that prevents damage during storage while maintaining ready accessibility for deployment
Data Source
AI summary
A wire, cable and cord organizer comprises a winding reel for storing wires, cables, such as computer cords, audiovisual cables, and the like. The organizer can comprise a plurality of different sizes suitable for various wires, cords, cable types and lengths. The organizer includes a hinged cover that protects and allows removal of an enclosed reel. The organizer has a crank handle that can lock in multiple positions to prevent unintended unrolling of a length of wire, cable, or cord stored on the reel. Both ends of the cable protrude from slots in the organizer to provide access to either end of the cable as needed.