Expandable width filament spool

• US 10,640,324 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark A. Petro
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Petro
• Inventors: Petro, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Application Number:
  US15/718,238
• Publication Number:
  US 20180086594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 950 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 40/00 Auxiliary operations or equipment, e.g. for material handling
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2701/313 Synthetic polymer threads
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/14 with two end flanges
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/2227 with a flange fixed to the hub part
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/2254 with particular joining means for releasably connecting parts
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/241 axially adjustable reels or bobbins
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/30 Arrangements to facilitate driving or braking

Abstract

An expandable spool includes a first hub extending from a first flange and includes a first plurality of interlocking portions. A second hub extending from a second flange includes a second plurality of interlocking portions that is connectible to the first plurality of interlocking portions to define a spacing between the first flange and the second flange for holding material on the spool.

Claims

1. An expandable spool comprising:

a first flange;

a first hub extending from the first flange and including a first plurality of interlocking portions;

a second flange;

a second hub extending from the second flange and including a second plurality of interlocking portions, wherein the first plurality of interlocking portions on the first hub are selectively connectable to the second plurality of interlocking portions on the second hub to define a spacing between the first flange and the second flange for holding material on the spool, wherein each of the first hub and the second hub include at least two drive openings of different shapes for receiving drive members of differing shapes.

2. The expandable spool as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of interlocking portions and the second plurality of interlocking portions include a first interlocking portion, a second interlocking portion and a third interlocking portion.

3. The expandable spool as recited in claim 1, wherein the first hub and the second hub are identically configured.

4. The expandable spool as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second and third interlocking portions includes at least one tab for holding the first hub to the second hub.

5. The expandable spool as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second and third interlocking portions include a post that is received within a corresponding opening for holding the first hub to the second hub.

6. The expandable spool as recited in claim 5, including an adhesive applied between the post and opening to secure the first hub to the second hub.

7. The expandable spool as recited in claim 5, wherein the at least one opening comprises one of an oval, round and rectilinear shape and the post comprises a shape corresponding to the at least one opening.

8. The expandable spool as recited in claim 1, including an extension connectable between the first hub and the second hub to at least partially define the spacing between the first flange and the second flange.

9. The expandable spool as recited in claim 8, wherein the extension includes a first end including a third plurality of interlocking portions and a second end including a fourth plurality of interlocking features, wherein the third and fourth interlocking portions are selective connectible to the first and second plurality of interlocking portions.

10. The expandable spool as recited in claim 8, wherein the extension comprises a tube attached to the first hub and the second hub to space the first flange apart from the second flange.

11. The expandable spool as recited in claim 1, wherein the extension includes a hub for receiving a tube to extend the spacing between flanges.

12. The expandable spool as recited in claim 11, wherein the extension comprises a first extension with a first hub receiving a first end of the tube and a second extension including a second hub receiving a second end of the tube.

13. The expandable spool as recited in claim 1, including a mechanical fastener securing the first hub to the second hub.

14. The expandable spool as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality and second plurality of interlocking portions include mating castellations.

15. An expandable spool comprising:

a first flange;

a first hub extending from the first flange and including a first plurality of interlocking portions;

a second flange;

a second hub extending from the second flange and including a second plurality of interlocking portions, wherein the first plurality of interlocking portions on the first hub are selectively connectable to the second plurality of interlocking portions on the second hub to define a spacing between the first flange and the second flange for holding material on the spool, wherein each of the first and second plurality of interlocking portions include tapered sides that increase in width in direction toward the corresponding one of the first and second flange.

16. An expandable spool comprising:

a first flange;

a first hub extending from the first flange and including a first plurality of castellations;

a second flange;

a second hub extending from the second flange and including a second plurality of castellations, wherein the first plurality of castellations on the first hub are selectively connectable to the second plurality of castellations on the second hub to define a spacing between the first flange and the second flange for holding material on the spool, wherein each of the first plurality of castellations and the second plurality of castellations include an outward extending tab disposed along a surface defining an inner diameter of the corresponding one of the first hub and the second hub.

17. The expandable spool as recited in claim 16, wherein first plurality of castellations and the second plurality of castellations include a tapered surface that increase in width in direction toward the corresponding one of the first and second flange.

18. The expandable spool as recited in claim 17, wherein the outward extending tab is disposed on the tapered surface.

19. The expandable spool as recited in claim 18, wherein the plurality of first castellations and the plurality of second castellations include a groove defined at an end of the tapered surface for receiving a corresponding tab.

20. The expandable spool as recited in claim 19, wherein the first hub and the second hub include a first drive opening having a first shape and a second drive opening having second shape different than the first shape.