Adjustable wire reel

• US 5,622,333 A
• Filed: 01/03/1996
• Issued: 04/22/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IPL Incorporated (IPL Plastics, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPL Incorporated (IPL Plastics, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jacques, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, JOHN QUOC
• Application Number:
  US08/582,273
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 242/578.2, 242/118.5
• US Class Current: 242/578.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 75/2416 with axial positions defined by discrete locations

Abstract

An adjustable wire reel that is formed of a pair of identical reel members made of plastics material which are interlocked to one another. Each reel member is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced barrel sections having at their extremities tongues which engage cooperating slots on the inner side of the opposite reel member. This inner side is provided with stepped surfaces in which these slots are provided so that the reel members may be interlocked in any one of these stepped surfaces so as to provide a reel with various spacings between flange portions of the reel members.

Claims

1. An adjustable wire reel comprising a pair of identical opposite reel members interlocked with one another;

said reel members having respective flange portions spaced from one another to define a winding receiving spacing therebetween and respective hub portions engaged to one another;

each said hub portion defining an inner side displaying a series of circumferentially spaced barrel sections, each said barrel section having a winding receiving face and an axially outer face contacting part of the inner side of the opposite reel member;

means on said outer face of said barrel section cooperating with means on said inner side of the opposite reel member for lockingly engaging said reel members to one another to thereby define a first spacing between said flange portions;

said inner side of each reel member having axially stepped surfaces each having said means cooperating with said means of said outer face of said barrel section of the opposite reel member for lockingly engaging said reel members to one another to thereby define different spacings between said flange portions whereby said wire reel is adjustable in width.

2. An adjustable wire reel as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrel sections and said stepped surfaces on each reel member extend annularly on said inner side thereof.

3. An adjustable wire reel as defined in claim 2, wherein said cooperating means on said outer face of said barrel sections consist of tongue means for lockingly engaging slot means;

said cooperating means on said inner side and on said stepped surfaces consist of said slots means for receiving said tongue means;

said tongue means being shaped to be received in said slot means and to be tightly engaged therein for lockingly securing said reel members together.

4. An adjustable wire reel as defined in claim 3, wherein each said slot means defines a first receiving opening adapted to receive said tongue means therein and a second securing opening adapted to secure said tongue means therein whereby rotational movements of said reel members relative to one another cause said tongue means to move from said receiving opening to said securing opening.

5. An adjustable wire reel as defined in claim 4, wherein said tongue means are T-shaped tongues and wherein said first and second openings define a T-shaped slot.

6. An adjustable wire reel as defined in claim 5, wherein said reel members are made of plastics material;

said T-shaped tongues being resiliently engaged in said second securing opening.

7. An adjustable wire reel as defined in claim 6, wherein each said T-shaped tongue displays a semi-spherical protuberance on a top wall thereof and wherein each said second receiving opening displays a semi-spherical recess in a bottom wall therein;

said protuberance being received in said recess when said reel members are resiliently engaged with one another.

8. An adjustable wire reel as defined in claim 2, wherein said inner side of said hub portion defines a central circular face having, centrally thereof, an integrally-formed tubular projection adapted to receive therein a cylindrical support for said wire reel.