Wire storing and dereeling apparatus

• US 4,451,014 A
• Filed: 08/11/1982
• Issued: 05/29/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mossberg Hubbard
• Original Assignee: Mossberg Industries
• Inventors: Wirts, Harold L., Kitt, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Christian, Leonard D.
• Application Number:
  US06/407,146
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 242/128, 242/129.5, 242/129.6, 242/130, 242/137, 242/137.1, 206/389, 206/391, 206/392, 206/394, 206/407, 206/409, 220/200
• US Class Current: 242/128
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 49/02 Methods or apparatus in which packages do not rotate

Abstract

An apparatus having the dual capability both as a transporting and storage apparatus and a dereeling apparatus for wire wound on a spool. The apparatus comprises a container having an annular rib on its lower inner surface which engages a groove disposed in the bottom flange of the spool received therein to secure the spool against radial and axial movement during normal use. The cover for the container is movable between a closed position and a dereeling position wherein the cover top surface is disposed above the spool upper flange a predetermined distance. The cover has upper and lower detents for removably securing it in its closed and dereeling positions, respectively, on the container. The container bottom has a hole therein and the cover has a locating boss disposed on its top surface in axial alignment with the bottom hole so that the locating boss is receivable within the arbor-receiving hole of a spool in a like apparatus stacked thereon. The locating boss serves to guide the arbor-receiving hole thereon and to maintain the apparatuses in stacked storage. A guide member is removably inserted within the locating boss and has an aperture therein through which the wire wound on the spool is dereeled. The guide member is preferably made of a plastic member to reduce any wear on the wire when it is dereeled. As described, the apparatus of the present invention is reusable for transporting, storing and dereeling other wire-wound spools.

Claims

1. Apparatus for storing and dereeling wire on a spool disposed with the axis thereof upright, comprising:

a container having an open top and a bottom, and adapted to receive said spool therein, said container including rib means disposed on the inner surface thereof in close proximity to said container bottom, said rib means extending radially inwardly and adapted to be engaged by a groove in a bottom portion of said spool to thereby secure said spool in said container,

a cover being receivable over said open top of said container, said cover being movable on said container between a closed position and a dereeling position wherein a midportion of said cover is spaced above said spool a predetermined distance,

locking means on one of said container and said cover,

means on the other of said container and said cover for engaging said locking means to removably secure said cover in said closed position and alternately to removably secure said cover in said dereeling position, and

means centrally disposed of said container axially above said spool for receiving a strand of wire being unreeled from said spool.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receiving means includes a removable guide member inserted in said midportion of said cover, said guide member having an aperture therein adapted to receive the strand of wire being unreeled from said spool.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said guide member is made of a plastic material.

4. Apparatus for storing and dereeling wire on a spool disposed with the axis thereof upright, comprising:

a container having an open top and a bottom having an arbor receiving recess therein, the container adapted to receive said spool therein,

a cover being receivable over said open top of said container, said cover being movable on said container between a closed position and a dereeling position wherein a midportion of said cover is spaced above said spool a predetermined distance,

locking means on one of said container and said cover,

means on the other of said container and said cover for engaging said locking means to removably secure said cover in said dereeling position,

means centrally disposed of said container axially above said spool for receiving a strand of wire being unreeled from said spool, and

a boss member disposed on the outer surface of said cover midportion in axial alignment with said recess in said bottom and extending axially outwardly from the outer surface,

said boss member being adapted to be received in the arbor-receiving recess of a spool in a like apparatus stacked thereon.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said receiving means includes a removable guide member inserted in said boss member, said guide member having an aperture axially disposed therein adapted to receive the strand of wire being unreeled.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said container includes rib means disposed on the inner surface thereof in close proximity to said container bottom, said rib means extending radially inwardly and adapted to be removably engaged by a groove in a bottom portion of said spool, thereby securing said spool in said container.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said rib means is an annular rib.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said guide member is made of a plastic material.

9. Apparatus for storing and dereeling wire on a spool disposed with the axis thereof upright, comprising:

a container having an open top and a bottom, and adapted to receive said spool therein,

a cover being receivable over said open top of said container, said cover being movable on said container between a closed position and a dereeling position wherein a midportion of said cover is spaced above said spool a predetermined distance,

locking means in the form of an annular flange on one of said container and said cover,

means on the other of said container and said cover for engaging said locking means to removably secure said cover in said closed position and alternately to removably secure said cover in said dereeling position comprising diametrically opposed pairs of detent means for engaging the locking means whereby a user may grasp the cover near the diametrically opposed detent means and deform the cover to disengage the respective pair of detent means for moving the cover to a different position, and

means centrally disposed of said container axially above said spool for receiving a strand of wire being unreeled from said spool.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said locking means is disposed on said container and said engaging means is disposed on said cover.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said locking means includes a flange member radially outwardly disposed along the periphery of said container top, and

wherein said engaging means includes two oppositely disposed resilient extension members joined to the periphery of said cover and extending axially downwardly therefrom and in radial spaced relation relative to said container,

each said extension member having on its inner surface an upper detent means and a lower detent means, said upper and lower detent means being separately engageable with said flange member, whereby said cover is secured in said closed position when said upper detent means engage said flange member, and, upon said extension members being moved radially outwardly to disengage said upper detent means and said cover moved upwardly, secured in said dereeling position when said lower detent means engage said flange member.