Patent Application
20220048725
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
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The present invention relates generally to reels or spool is for storing and distributing linear products. More particularly, this invention pertains to reels or spool is for.
Spool is are used to store and distribute a length of material (i.e., a linear product) such as wire or cable. Spool is (i.e., reels) are constructed of metal, wood, plastic, poly-hybrids and a mixture of these materials. Spool is are typically held together by steel rods, staples, screws, nails, and metal pipe (e.g., an axle). They have a center drum and end flanges. The center drum is routinely formed by a plurality of slats inset into circular grooves in the circular end flanges. The rods pull the flanges together to retain the slats in the circular grooves.
Take-up machines are used to wind wire or other linear materials onto spool is (i.e., onto the drum of a spool). The take-up machines engage the flanges and spin the flanges to pull the linear product onto the drum of the spool. The spool is then packaged (e.g., wrapped in plastic) and delivered to customers so that they may off load the linear product in a controlled manner without tangling for their purposes. Existing spool is require end users of linear products to have a system for unspooling the linear product in a controlled manner.
Aspects of the present invention provide a spool for storing and distributing linear product. The spool has a drum and inner flanges defining the ends of the drum. The drum is configured to receive a linear product wound about the drum. The inner flanges have locking gears on the outside faces of the inner flanges. The spool has an axle supporting the inner flanges and a pair of outer flanges. The outer flanges each have an outer flange gear positioned in their inner face and corresponding to the inner flange gear. The inner and outer flange gears cooperate to allow the drum to rotate in a first direction but not a second direction when the spool is supported by the outer flanges. The outer flanges are slightly taller than the inner flanges such that the spool may be positioned on a flat surface (e.g., truck bed or ground) and unwound without any equipment. The spool may also be rolled without unwinding the linear product (i.e., length of material) from the drum.
In one aspect, a spool includes a drum, a first inner flange, a second inner flange, a first outer flange, and a second outer flange. The drum extends along the longitudinal axis. A portion of the drums configured to receive the length of material wound thereon. The first inner flange is configured to attach to the drum. The second inner flange is configured to attach to the drum. The first and second inner flange is defined the portion of the drum configured to receive the length of material when the spool is assembled. The drum, first inner flange, and second inner flange are configured to rotate together about the longitudinal axis when the spool is assembled. The drum, first inner flange, and second inner flange are rotatable around the longitudinal axis in a first direction relative to the first outer flange when the spool is assembled. The drum, first inner flange, and second inner flange are rotatable about the longitudinal axis in the first direction relative to the second outer flange when the spool is assembled. The drum, first inner flange, and second inner flange are not rotatable about the longitudinal axis in a second direction relative to the first outer flange when the spool is assembled. The drum, first inner flange, and second inner flange are not rotatable around the longitudinal axis in the second direction relative to the first outer flange when the spool is assembled. The first direction is opposite the second direction. In one embodiment, the drum is suspended or assembled by the locking gear. That is, the inner locking gear is integral with the inner flange such that the locking gear attached directly to opposing longitudinal ends of the drum.
Reference will now be made in detail to optional embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawing and in the description referring to the same or like parts.
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.
To facilitate the understanding of the embodiments described herein, a number of terms are defined below. The terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as “a,” “an,” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but rather include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as set forth in the claims.
As described herein, an upright position is considered to be the position of apparatus components while in proper operation or in a natural resting position as described herein. Vertical, horizontal, above, below, side, top, bottom and other orientation terms are described with respect to this upright position during operation unless otherwise specified. The upright position of a spool as used herein is with the longitudinal axis generally horizontal with the spool assembled as shown in, for example,
The phrase “in one embodiment,” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and/or states. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements and/or states are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without operator input or prompting, whether these features, elements and/or states are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the spool 100 further includes an axle 301. The axle 301 extends along the longitudinal axis 112. The axle 301 is configured to support the first inner flange 103, second inner flange 107, first outer flange 109, and second outer flange 111 when the spool 100 is assembled. In one embodiment, the spool 100 further includes a first collet 303 and a second collet 305. The first collet 303 is configured to limit longitudinal movement of the first outer flange 109 on the axle 301 away from the center 114 of the spool 100 when the spool 100 is assembled. The second collet 305 is configured to limit longitudinal movement of the second outer flange 111 on the axle 301 away from the center 114 of the spool 100 when the spool 100 is assembled. It is contemplated that the first and second collets 303, 305 may be collars, bands, or flanged ends of the axle 301 within the scope of the claims.
The drum 105, first inner flange 103, and second inner flange 107 are configured to rotate together about the longitudinal axis 112 when the spool 100 is assembled. The drum 105, first inner flange 103, and second inner flange 107 are rotatable about the longitudinal axis 112 in a first direction relative to the first outer flange 109 when the spool 100 is assembled. The drum 105, first inner flange 103, and second inner flange 107 are rotatable about the longitudinal axis 112 in the first direction relative to the second outer flange 111 when the spool 100 is assembled. The drum 105, first inner flange 103, and second inner flange 107 are not rotatable about the longitudinal axis 112 in a second direction relative to the first outer flange 109 when the spool 100 is assembled. The drum 105, first inner flange with 3, and second inner flange 107 are not rotatable about the longitudinal axis 112 in the second direction relative to the first outer flange 109 when the spool 100 is assembled. The first direction is opposite the second direction.
In one embodiment, the drum 105 is generally cylindrical. In one embodiment, the first inner flange 103, and second inner flange 107 each have a generally circular cross-section relative to the longitudinal axis 112. In one embodiment, the first outer flange 109 and the second outer flange 111 each have generally circular cross-sections relative to the longitudinal axis 112. In one embodiment, the generally circular cross-section of the first inner flange 103 and the generally circular cross-section of the second inner flange 107 have a diameter less than a diameter of the generally circular cross-section of the first outer flange 109 and the generally circular cross-section of the second outer flange 111. Because the first outer flange 109 and second outer flange 111 have larger diameters than the first inner flange 103 and second inner flange 107, the spool 100 may be placed directly on a surface and loaded or unloaded without the use of a machine. The first outer flange 109 and the second outer flange 111 suspend the first inner flange 103, second inner flange 107, and drum 105 above the surface such that they may rotate freely in the first direction. Depending on the orientation of the spool 100, the spool 100 may thus be loaded or unloaded without additional equipment (e.g., a take-up device for loading or a spool stand for unloading).
In one embodiment, the spool 100 has provisions for use with a take-up device (i.e. a device for winding the length of material or linear product onto the drum 105). The first inner flange 103 has a recess 121 in an outer surface 123 of the first inner flange 103. The recess 121 and the outer surface 123 of the first inner flange 103 is configured to receive the take-up device. The first outer flange 109 has a whole 125 there through configured to align with the recess 121 in the outer surface 123 of the first inner flange 103 such that the take-up device can interface with the recess 121 in the outer surface 123 of the first inner flange 103 and the first outer flange 109 is rotationally locked to the first inner flange 103 when the take-up device engages the recess 121 and the outer surface 123 of the first inner flange 103. In one embodiment, the second inner flange 107 similarly has a recess 131 in an outer surface 133 of the second inner flange 107. The recess 131 in the outer surface 133 of the second inner flange 107 is configured to receive the take-up device. The second outer flange 111 has a hole 135 there through configured to align with the recess 131 in the outer surface 133 of the second inner flange 107 such that the take-up device can interface with the recess 131 and the outer surface 133 of the second inner flange 107 and the second outer flange 111 is rotationally locked to the second inner flange 107 when the take-up device engages the recess 131 and the outer surface 133 of the second inner flange 107.
In one embodiment, the spool 100 further includes an inner flange gear 501 and an outer flange gear 503. The inner flange gear 501 is configured to attach to the first inner flange 103 such that the inner flange gear 501 cannot rotate with respect to the first inner flange 103 when the spool 100 is assembled. The outer flange gear 503 is configured to attach to the first outer flange 109 such that the outer flange gear 503 cannot rotate with respect to the first outer flange 109 when the spool 100 is assembled. The inner flange gear 501 and outer flange gear 503 cooperate to allow rotation of the first inner flange 103, drum 105, and second inner flange 107 about the longitudinal axis 112 relative to the first outer flange 109 in the first direction when the spool 100 is assembled. The inner flange gear 501 and outer flange gear 503 similarly cooperate to prevent rotation of the drum 105, first inner flange 103, and second inner flange 107 about the longitudinal axis 112 relative to the first outer flange 109 in the second direction when the spool 100 is assembled. In one embodiment, the outer flange gear 503 protrudes from an inner surface 129 of the outer flange 109 when the spool 100 is assembled. In one embodiment, the inner flange gear 501 is at least partially recessed into the outer surface 123 of the inner flange 103 when the spool 100 is assembled.
In one embodiment, front surfaces 601 of teeth of the inner flange gear 103 are at an acute angle with respect to the outer surface 123 of the first inner flange 103 when the spool 100 is assembled. Front surfaces 603 of teeth of the outer flange gear 503 are at an acute angle with respect to the inner surface 129 of the first outer flange 109 when the spool 100 is assembled. Rear surfaces 605 of the teeth of the inner flange gear 501 are at an obtuse angle with respect to the outer surface 123 of the first inner flange 103 when the spool 100 is assembled. Rear surfaces 607 of the teeth of the outer flange gear 503 are at an obtuse angle with respect to the inner surface 129 of the first outer flange 109 when the spool 100 is assembled. The front surfaces 601 of the teeth of the inner flange gear 501 and the front surfaces 603 of the outer flange gear 503 contact one another and pull the inner flange gear 501 and outer flange gear 503 toward one another and interlock when the drum 105, the first inner flange 103, and the second inner flange 107 are rotated about the longitudinal axis 112 relative to the first outer flange 109 in the second direction. The rear surfaces 605 of the teeth of the inner flange gear 501 and the rear surfaces 607 of the teeth of the outer flange gear 503 contact one another and push the inner flange gear 501 and outer flange gear 503 apart when the drum 105, first inner flange 103, and second inner flange 107 are rotated about the longitudinal axis 112 relative to the first outer flange 109 in the first direction.
In one embodiment, the inner flange gear 501 and the outer flange gear 503 are a first inner flange gear and a first outer flange gear 503. The spool 100 further includes a second inner flange gear 505 and a second outer flange gear 507. The second inner flange gear 505 is configured to attach to the second inner flange 107 such that the second inner flange gear 505 cannot rotate with respect to the second inner flange 107 when the spool 100 is assembled. The second outer flange gear is configured to attach to the second outer flange 111 such that the second outer flange gear 507 cannot rotate with respect to the second outer flange 111 when the spool 100 is assembled. The second inner flange gear 505 and second outer flange gear 507 cooperate to allow rotation of the second inner flange 107, drum 105, and first inner flange 103 about the longitudinal axis 112 relative to the second outer flange 111 in the first direction when the spool 100 is assembled. The second inner flange gear 505 and second outer flange gear 507 cooperate to prevent rotation of the drum 105, the first inner flange 103, and the second inner flange 107 about the longitudinal axis 112 relative to the second outer flange 111 in the second direction when the spool 100 is assembled.
In one embodiment, the spool 100 further includes at least one spring 701. The spring 701 is configured to bias the inner flange gear 501 and outer flange gear 503 into contact with one another when the spool 100 is assembled. In one embodiment, the spring 701 is positioned between the first inner flange 103 and the inner flange gear 501 when the spool 100 is assembled, and in another embodiment, the spring 701 is positioned between the first outer flange 109 and the outer flange gear 503 when the spool 100 is assembled. It is contemplated within the scope of the claims that multiple springs may be used, and springs may be used on both the first inner flange 103 and the second inner flange 107, both the first outer flange 109 and second outer flange 111, only the first inner flange 103, only the second inner flange 107, only the first outer flange 109, or only the second outer flange 111.
Referring to
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
It will be understood that the particular embodiments described herein are shown by way of illustration and not as limitations of the invention. The principal features of this invention may be employed in various embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize numerous equivalents to the specific procedures described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of this invention and are covered by the claims.
All of the compositions and/or methods disclosed and claimed herein may be made and/or executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the compositions and methods of this invention have been described in terms of the embodiments included herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variations may be applied to the compositions and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the method described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the invention. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful UNIDIRECTIONAL LOCKING SPOOL it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.
