US 11,873,188 B2
Reel unwinding and winding control
James B. A. Tracey, Austin, TX (US); and Marty L. Gillespie, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to GREAT STUFF, INC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed by GREAT STUFF, INC., Austin, TX (US)
Filed on Apr. 27, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/241,636.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/067,751, filed on Aug. 19, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/016,818, filed on Apr. 28, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0331890 A1, Oct. 28, 2021
Int. Cl. B65H 75/44 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 75/4484 (2013.01) [B65H 75/4486 (2013.01); B65H 2701/34 (2013.01)] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrical cord reel assembly comprising:
a spool configured to wind and unwind an electrical cord therefrom;
a motor configured to rotate the spool to wind and unwind the electrical cord about the spool; and
a controller in electrical communication with the motor and the electrical cord, wherein the controller is configured to:
in response to an unwind command, place or maintain the electrical cord in a power off state;
in response to the unwind command, transmit an unwind signal to the motor to cause the motor to unwind the electrical cord from the spool; and
automatically place the electrical cord in a power on state based at least in part on an amount of rotation of the spool during the unwinding.