초록 ▼

A retractor device is mounted a recreational vehicle for permitting powered retraction of the external power cord. The power cord is normally stored within an interior compartment and is accessible through an openable cover when extension of the power cord and connection to an external electrical po

A retractor device is mounted a recreational vehicle for permitting powered retraction of the external power cord. The power cord is normally stored within an interior compartment and is accessible through an openable cover when extension of the power cord and connection to an external electrical power source is desired. A retractor device is mounted interiorly of the cover and has a pair of generally parallel but spaced rollers which are relatively spring urged toward one another for gripping the power cord therebetween. The rollers are synchronously driven in opposite rotational directions from a drive motor which, through a suitable control switch, is powered from a low voltage direct current source, such as the vehicle battery. At least one roller can be moved, in opposition to the springs, into a release position by a manually-actuated release element to effectively disengage the cord when manual extension of the power cord is desired.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In a recreational vehicle having a low-voltage direct-current power source, a high-voltage alternating-current electrical circuit, an elongate flexible power cord connected to said electrical circuit and disposed in a storage compartment within the vehicle, the power cord having plug means on a f

1. In a recreational vehicle having a low-voltage direct-current power source, a high-voltage alternating-current electrical circuit, an elongate flexible power cord connected to said electrical circuit and disposed in a storage compartment within the vehicle, the power cord having plug means on a free end thereof and being extendible outwardly from the vehicle for connection to an external source of high-voltage alternating-current power, and an operable cover mounted onthe vehicle for normally closing the compartment and confining the power cord therein, the improvement comprising a power cord retraction device mounted on said vehicle inwardly of said cover for permitting powered retraction of the power cord into the storage compartment, wherein said power cord retraction device includes a pair of cord-engaging rollers disposed for grippingly engaging the cord therebetween, and a drive motor dricingly interconnected to said pair of rolles for effecting simultaneous rotation thereof in opposite rotational directions for pulling the power cord inwardly from exteriorly of the vehicle and discharging the power cord into the storage compartment, wherein said drive motor is coupled to said low-voltage direct-current power source, spring means coacting with at least one said roller for resiliently urging said rollers relatively toward one another for gripping engagement with the power cord therebetween, manually-actuatable release means coacting with said one roller for effecting movement thereof in opposition to said spring means for effecting release of said one roller from said power cord, manually-actutatable switch means electrically coupled between said low-voltage direct-current power source and said drive motor for permitting selective actuation of said drive motor, an inner wall secured to said vehicle in generally parallel but inwardly spaced relationship from said cover when said cover is closed, said inner wall being spaced from the cover to define an interior compartment therebetween, said switch means and said release means being accessible within said inner compartment solely when said cover is in an open position, said inner wall having opening means therethrough for permitting passage of said power cord, and said rollers being mounted rearwardly of said inner wall. 2. A vehicle according to claim 1, including a lock structure associated with said cover for normally securing the cover in said closed position. 3. In a recreational vehicle having a low-voltage direct-current power source, a high-voltage alternating-current electrical circuit, an elongate flexible power cord connected to said electrical circuit and disposed in a storage compartment within the vehicle, the power cord having plug means on a free end thereof and being extendible outwardly from the vehicle for connection to an external source of high-voltage alternating-current power, and an operable cover mounted on the vehicle for normally closing the compartment and confining the power cord therein, the improvement comprising a power cord retraction device mounted on said vehicle inwardly of said cover for permitting powered retraction of the power cord into the storage compartment, wherein said power cord retraction device includes a pair of cord-engaging rollers disposed for grippingly engaging the cord therebetween, and a drive motor drivingly interconnected to said pair of rollers for effecting simultaneous rotation thereof in opposite rotational directions for pulling the power cord inwardly from exteriorly of the vehicle and discharging the power cord into the storage compartment, manually-actuatable switch means electrically coupled between said low-voltage direct-current power source and said drive motor for permitting selective actuation of said drive motor, an inner wall secured to said vehicle in inwardly spaced relationship from said cover when said cover is closed, said inner wall cooperating with the cover to define an interior compartment therebetween, said switch means being accessible within said inner compartment solely when said cover is in an open position, said inner wall having opening means therethrough for permitting passage of said power cord, and said rollers being mounted rearwardly of said inner wall. 4. A vehicle according to claim 3, including manually-actuatable release means coacting with one of said rollers for effecting release of said one roller from said power cord, and wherein said inner wall has a wall portion which is generally parallel with said cover when the latter is in said closed position, said wall portion having said opening means formed therethrough. 5. A vehicle according to claim 4, including alock structure associated with said cover for normally securing the cover in said closed position. 6. A vehicle according to claim 3, including a lock structure associated with said cover for normally securing the cover in said closed position. 7. A power cord retraction device for a recreational vehicle, comprising: an elongate flexible electrical power cord for transmitting at least 110-volt alternating-current electricity therethrough, said power cord having a free end provided with a plug structure thereon for connection to an external power source, said power cord at the other end being connected to an electrical power terminal within the recreational vehicle; a generally vertical wall structure having an opening therethrough for permitting the power cord to be fed outwarldy through the opening for connection to the external power source, the plug structure on the free end of the power cord being normally positioned outwardly of said wall structure, the other end of said power cord being connected to the vehicle inwardly of said wall structure; an openable cover moable between open and closed positions, said cover when in the closed position being generally disposed outwardly from said wall structure and cooperating therewith for defining an interior compartment therebetween, said plug structure being normally stored rearwardly of said cover within said interior compartment when the power cord is in its fully retracted position; a lock structure associated with said cover for normally securing the cover in said closed position; a pair of rotatable cord-retraction rollers disposed in generally parallel and adjacent but spaced relationship so as to define a gap therebetween for accommodating the power cord, the rollers having nonsmooth peripheral surfaces for driving engagement with diametrically peripheral surfaces for driving said rollers being positioned inwardly of said wall structure; motor means drivingly coupled to said rollers for effecting simultaneous and synchronous rotation of said rollers in opposite rotational directions to effect retraction of the power cord inwardly through the opening and thence between the rollers for storage of the cord within the vehicle inwardly of said wall structure; and spring means cooperating with at least one of said rollers for normally relatively urging the rollers toward one another for gripping of the power cord therebetween; manually-actuatable release means for permitting displacement of said one roller in opposition to the urging of said spring means to permit release of said roller from driving engagement with said power cord, said release means including a manually-engageable release member which projects into said interior compartment so as to be manually accessible and actuatable only when the cover is in said open position; and switch means for controlling energization of said motor means.