Bluespan Inc.

Great Stuff, Inc.

Nicholas H Anderson

Ronald Edgar Ham

James Chaput

Daraius K Hathiram

Bruce Cummings

James B A Tracey

Ramon Anthony Caamano

Christian Okonsky Gerard

Christopher A Cogburn

A reel includes a reel drum enclosed within a housing comprising a first housing portion, a second housing portion, and a middle housing portion positioned therebetween. A spindle member has a first end connected to the first housing portion and a second end connected to the second housing portion. The spindle member extends through an opening in the drum so that the drum is rotatable about a spindle axis defined by the spindle member. The middle housing portion encircles the drum and has an aperture through which linear material can extend, the linear material of a type that may be spooled on the drum. The middle housing portion is rotatable about the spindle axis independently of the drum. In preferred embodiments, the reel is a cord reel and the linear material is electrical cord. In preferred embodiments, the middle housing portion is rotatable at least 360&#xb0; about the spindle axis. In preferred embodiments, the drum is powered by an electric motor. In preferred embodiments, the housing is substantially spherical and the reel further comprises one or more support structures that include handles and are configured to prevent the housing from contacting a flat surface such as a floor or wall. In preferred embodiments, one or more temperature-sensitive switches are configured to shut off power to a spooled electrical cord in the event that a temperature of the reel exceeds a given threshold. In preferred embodiments, a solenoid is provided for locking the middle housing portion with respect to the first and second housing portions while the motor is rotating in a direction to spool the linear material onto the drum.

Reel and reel housing

A method, computer program product and system for monitoring and locating an object using secure communications without relying on GPS. A monitoring device may activate a monitored unit (unit monitored by monitoring device) by transmitting a seed of an algorithm and a time synchronization to the monitored unit. The seed and time synchronization may be used in conjunction with an algorithm, e.g., frequency hopping table, stored in both the monitoring device and the monitored unit, to allow both the monitoring device and the monitored unit to communicate with one another at a uniquely synchronized time and frequency thereby making it more difficult for a third party to locate the monitored unit. An alert may be generated when the monitored unit is located beyond a predetermined zone. The monitored unit may be located by activating a directional antenna in conjunction with a digital compass on the monitoring device.

System for monitoring and locating people and objects

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Nicholas H Anderson