Fiber reel-in-box cable packaging arrangement

• US 10,414,622 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2017
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ellis, Kimberly L., Parke, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Application Number:
  US15/585,943
• Publication Number:
  US 20170320689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/16 the tubular body being formed with an aperture or removable portion arranged to allow removal or insertion of contents through one or more sides contents-dispensing means B65D5/72
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/04 for coils of wire, rope or hose
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/322 Enclosing boxes with supporting means for the package or reel during unwinding
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/325 Arrangements or adaptations for supporting the shafts, e.g. saddle type shaft bearings

Abstract

Aspects and techniques of the present disclosure relate to a cable packaging arrangement (e.g., reel-in-box package) including a plurality of tabs appending to the top and bottom portions of the arrangement which are individually shaped to be easily assembled together, respectively, so that the top and bottom portions of the cable packaging arrangement will be closed.

Claims

1. A cable packaging arrangement comprising:

a box including;

a side panel arrangement including a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel, the first, second, third, and fourth side panels being consecutively positioned about a rectangular perimeter of the box when the box is assembled, the first side panel opposing the third side panel when the box is assembled, the second side panel opposing the fourth side panel when the box is assembled, the first and second side panels being connected at a first side panel fold line, the second and third side panels being connected at a second side panel fold line, the third and fourth side panels being connected at a third side panel fold line, the side panel arrangement also including an attachment tab connected to the first side panel at a fourth side panel fold line, the attachment tab being adhesively bonded to an interior side of the fourth side panel, the second and fourth side panels defining hand hold openings, the second side panel including a removable section defined by a boundary including perforations configured for allowing the removable section to be removed from a main body of the second side panel, the boundary defining a cable dispensing window when the removable section has been removed from the main body of the second side panel, the cable dispensing window having an area that coincides with at least 15 percent of a total area defined by a perimeter of the second side panel, the first, second, third, and fourth side panel fold lines being parallel to one another;

a bottom flap arrangement for closing a bottom of the box when the box is assembled, the bottom flap arrangement including a first bottom flap, a second bottom flap, a third bottom flap, and a fourth bottom flap, the first bottom flap being connected to the first side panel by a first bottom flap fold line, the second bottom flap being connected to the second side panel by a second bottom flap fold line, the third bottom flap being connected to the third side panel by a third bottom flap fold line, the fourth bottom flap being connected to the fourth side panel by a fourth bottom flap fold line, the first, second, third, and fourth bottom flap fold lines being perpendicular relative to the first, second, third, and fourth side panel fold lines, the first bottom flap being generally rectangular and being configured to include a rectangular notch positioned between first and second rectangular extensions, the rectangular notch being centered between the second and fourth side panels when the box is assembled, the first rectangular extension being adjacent to the fourth side panel when the box is assembled, the second rectangular extension being adjacent to the second side panel when the box is assembled, the second bottom flap including a third rectangular extension that is positioned adjacent to the third side panel when the box is assembled, the second bottom flap also including a first angled edge aligned at an oblique angle relative to the second bottom flap fold line that extends generally from the first side panel fold line to the third rectangular extension, the third bottom flap including a bottom retaining tab that is centered between the second and fourth side panels when the box is assembled, the third bottom flap also including a second angled edge aligned at an oblique angle relative to the third bottom flap fold line that extends generally from the second side panel fold line to the bottom retaining tab, the third bottom flap further including a third angled edge aligned at an oblique angle relative to the third bottom flap fold line that extends generally from the third side panel fold line to the bottom retaining tab, the fourth bottom flap including a fourth rectangular extension that is positioned adjacent to the third side panel when the box is assembled, the fourth bottom flap also including a fourth angled edge aligned at an oblique angle relative to the fourth bottom flap fold line that extends generally from a terminal edge of the fourth side panel to the fourth rectangular extension, the terminal edge of the fourth side panel being parallel to the first, second, third, and fourth side panel fold lines, the bottom retaining tab fitting within the rectangular notch when the box is assembled, and the second and fourth bottom flaps being sandwiched between the first and third bottom flaps when the box is assembled;

a top flap arrangement for closing a top of the box when the box is assembled, the top flap arrangement including a first top flap, a second top flap, a third top flap, and a fourth top flap, the first top flap being connected to the first side panel by a first top flap fold line, the second top flap being connected to the second side panel by a second top flap fold line, the third top flap being connected to the third side panel by a third top flap fold line, the fourth top flap being connected to the fourth side panel by a fourth top flap fold line, the first, second, third, and fourth top flap fold lines being perpendicular relative to the first, second, third, and fourth side panel fold lines, the second top flap including a top retaining tab that has a central main tab portion positioned between folding retention flaps, the fourth top flap defining a top retention slot that receives the top retaining tab to close the top of the box when the box is assembled, the first and third top flaps being sandwiched between the fourth top flap and the second top flap when the top of the box is closed; and

a spool assembly that mounts within the box when the box is assembled, the spool assembly including a spool supported on a frame such that the spool can rotate within the box relative to the frame, the spool assembly also including fiber optic cable coiled about the spool, wherein to dispense the fiber optic cable from the box the fiber optic cable is pulled from the box through the cable dispensing window causing the spool to rotate within the box.

2. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the spool assembly includes dual tensioners that control a force required to rotate the spool relative to the frame.

3. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the dual tensioners are positioned on opposite sides of the box.

4. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the dual tensioners have at least three adjustable settings for customizing payout of the fiber optic cable.

5. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a tape that extends around the rectangular perimeter of the box at a location between the hand hold openings and the first, second, third, and fourth top flap fold lines, the tape providing reinforcement to the box.

6. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the box is made of a fiberboard that includes a corrugated layer.

7. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the tape is positioned between layers of the fiberboard.

8. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a starburst cutout for securing an end of the fiber optic cable.

9. A cable packaging arrangement comprising:

a box including;

a side panel arrangement including a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel and a fourth side panel, the first, second, third, and fourth side panels being consecutively positioned about a rectangular perimeter of the box when the box is assembled, the first side panel opposing the third side panel when the box is assembled, the second side panel opposing the fourth side panel when the box is assembled, first and second side panels being connected at a first side panel fold line, the second and third side panels being connected at a second side panel fold line, the third and fourth side panels being connected at a third side panel fold line, the side panel arrangement also including an attachment tab connected to the first side panel at a fourth side panel fold line, the attachment tab being adhesively bonded to an interior side of the fourth side panel, the first and third side panels defining centrally located circular openings, the second and fourth side panels defining hand hold openings, the second side panel including a removable section defined by a boundary including perforations configured for allowing the removable section to be removed from a main body of the second side panel, the boundary defining a cable dispensing window when the removable section has been removed from the main body of the second side panel, the cable dispensing window having an area that coincides with at least 15 percent of a total area defined by a perimeter of the second side panel, the first, second, third, and fourth side panel fold lines being parallel to one another;

a bottom flap arrangement for closing a bottom of the box when the box is assembled, the bottom flap arrangement including a first bottom flap, a second bottom flap, a third bottom flap, and a fourth bottom flap, the first bottom flap being connected to the first side panel by a first bottom flap fold line, the second bottom flap being connected to the second side panel by a second bottom flap fold line, the third bottom flap being connected to the third side panel by a third bottom flap fold line, the fourth bottom flap being connected to the fourth side panel by a fourth bottom flap fold line, the first, second, third, and fourth bottom flap fold lines being perpendicular relative to the first, second, third, and fourth side panel fold lines, the first bottom flap being generally rectangular and being configured to include a rectangular notch positioned between first and second rectangular extensions, the rectangular notch being centered between the second and fourth side panels when the box is assembled, the first rectangular extension being adjacent to the fourth side panel when the box is assembled, the second rectangular extension being adjacent to the second side panel when the box is assembled, the second bottom flap including a third rectangular extension that is positioned adjacent to the third side panel when the box is assembled, the second bottom flap also including a first angled edge aligned at an oblique angle relative to the second bottom flap fold line that extends generally from the first side panel fold line to the third rectangular extension, the third bottom flap including a bottom retaining tab that is centered between the second and fourth side panels when the box is assembled, the third bottom flap also including a second angled edge aligned at an oblique angle relative to the third bottom flap fold line that extends generally from the second side panel fold line to the bottom retaining tab, the third bottom flap further including a third angled edge aligned at an oblique angle relative to the third bottom flap fold line that extends generally from the third side panel fold line to the bottom retaining tab, the fourth bottom flap including a fourth rectangular extension that is positioned adjacent to the third side panel when the box is assembled, the fourth bottom flap also including a fourth angled edge aligned at an oblique angle relative to the fourth bottom flap fold line that extends generally from a terminal edge of the fourth side panel to the fourth rectangular extension, the terminal edge of the fourth side panel being parallel to the first, second, third, and fourth side panel fold lines, the bottom retaining tab fitting within the rectangular notch when the box is assembled, and the second and fourth bottom flaps being sandwiched between the first and third bottom flaps when the box is assembled;

a top flap arrangement for closing a top of the box when the box is assembled, the top flap arrangement including a first top flap, a second top flap, a third top flap, and a fourth top flap, the first top flap being connected to the first side panel by a first top flap fold line, the second top flap being connected to the second side panel by a second top flap fold line, the third top flap being connected to the third side panel by a third top flap fold line, the fourth top flap being connected to the fourth side panel by a fourth top flap fold line, the first, second, third, and fourth top flap fold lines being perpendicular relative to the first, second, third, and fourth side panel fold lines, the second top flap including a top retaining tab that has a central main tab portion positioned between folding retention flaps, the fourth top flap defining a top retention slot that receives the top retaining tab to close the top of the box when the box is assembled, the first and third top flaps being sandwiched between the fourth top flap and the second top flap when the top of the box is closed; and

a spool assembly that mounts within the box when the box is assembled, the spool assembly including a spool supported on a frame such that the spool can rotate within the box relative to the frame, the spool assembly including at least a first tensioner that controls a force required to rotate the spool relative to the frame, the frame having projections that fit within a respective one of the central circular openings of the box, the spool assembly also including fiber optic cable coiled about the spool, wherein to dispense the fiber optic cable from the box, the fiber optic cable is pulled from the box through the cable dispensing window causing the spool to rotate within the box.

10. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the box includes:

a second tensioner positioned opposite the first tensioner.

11. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the first and second tensioners are incorporated into respective projections of the frame that fit in the central circular openings.

12. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the first and second tensioners are visible in or out of the box.

13. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the first and second tensioners have at least three adjustable settings for customizing the fiber optic cable payout.

14. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 9, further comprising a tape that extends around the rectangular perimeter of the box at a location between the hand hold openings and the first, second, third, and fourth top flap fold lines, the tape providing reinforcement to the box.

15. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the box is made of a fiberboard.

16. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the tape is positioned between layers of the fiberboard.

17. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 15, wherein the fiberboard includes a corrugated layer.

18. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 9, further comprising a starburst cutout for securing an end of the fiber optic cable.

19. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the bottom of the box is self-locking.

20. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the top of the box is self-locking.

21. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the cable dispensing window is generally rectangular with prominently rounded upper corners.

22. A cable packaging arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the frame is formed of a plastic material.