# US 10,766,735 B2 · Flange stand and adapter for flanges > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,735 B2 - Document ID: US10766735B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/726,158 - Filed: 2017-10-05 - Published: 2018-02-01 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-08-19 - Assignees: Southwire Company - Applicants: Southwire Company, LLC - Inventors: Richard Mike Temblador; Myron Dale Deese; Harry William Kent, Jr.; Juan Alberto Galindo Gonzalez; James Phillip Tuggle; Franklin Clarence Calhoun - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766735B2 ## CPC - B65H 75/185: {End caps, plugs or adapters} - B65H 49/321: {characterised by features enabling their folding or dismantling} - B65H 49/325: {Arrangements or adaptations for supporting the shafts, e.g. saddle type shaft bearings} - B65H 49/36: Securing packages to supporting devices (replacing or removing cores, receptacles, or completed packages at paying-out, winding, or depositing stations B65H67/00) - B65H 49/38: Skips, cages, racks, or containers, adapted solely for the transport or storage of bobbins, cops, or the like - B65H 75/14: with two end flanges - B65H 75/146: {with at least one intermediate flange between the two end flanges} - B65H 75/2245: {connecting flange to hub} - B65H 75/2254: {with particular joining means for releasably connecting parts} - B65H 75/248: {expansion caused by actuator movable in axial direction} - B65H 75/403: {Carriage with wheels} - F16M 11/22: with approximately constant height, e.g. with constant length of column or of legs (F16M11/42 takes precedence) - B21C 47/28: Drums or other coil-holders - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - B21C: MANUFACTURE OF METAL SHEETS, WIRE, RODS, TUBES, PROFILES OR LIKE SEMI-MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS OTHERWISE THAN BY ROLLING; AUXILIARY OPERATIONS USED IN CONNECTION WITH METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL ## Abstract A flange for use on a reel, a flange adapter, and a flange stand are provided. The flange may include an outer circumference, a hub assembly, and an arbor hole adapter that is adapted to engage an arbor hole to secure the flange to the reel. The arbor hole adapter may include an expandable portion that is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. First and second expansion plates may be coupled to the arbor hole adapter and connected by shoulder bolts that guide movement of the plates between an abutting configuration and a spaced-apart configuration, allowing movement of the expandable portion relative to the reel for modified engagement. The flange stand may include a base, a support portion, and a coupler for engaging a central extension of the flange to allow the flange to be supported in an upright position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly for attaching a flange to a reel, the assembly comprising: the flange; a hub assembly coupled to the flange; and an arbor hole adapter coupled to the hub assembly, the arbor hole adapter having at least one expandable portion that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position for securing the flange to the reel, wherein the flange is independently rotatable relative to the reel when attached to the reel using the arbor hole adapter wherein the arbor hole adapter is coupled to a first expansion plate and a second expansion plate wherein the first expansion plate includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots wherein each of the plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots comprises an elongated locking slot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of shoulder bolts coupled between the first expansion plate and the second expansion plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of shoulder bolts are threaded through the second expansion plate and through the respective plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots on the first expansion plate, slidably securing the first expansion plate to the second expansion plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, wherein the first expansion plate and the second expansion plate are movable between an abutting configuration and a spaced-apart configuration guided by the plurality of shoulder bolts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of shoulder bolts include respective grooves for locking a position of the first expansion plate relative to the second expansion plate in the spaced-apart configuration. ### Claim 6 A method of securing a flange to a reel, the method comprising: positioning the flange adjacent to the reel, the flange coupled to an arbor hole adapter and a hub assembly, the arbor hole adapter having at least one expandable portion that is movable between a retracted position and an extended position; inserting the expandable portion at least partially into an arbor hole of the reel while the expandable portion is in the retracted position; and moving the expandable portion from the retracted position to the extended position to engage the reel, wherein the hub assembly permits independent rotation of the flange relative to the reel when the flange is secured to the reel using the arbor hole adapter wherein the arbor hole adapter is coupled to a first expansion plate and a second expansion plate that are movable between an abutting configuration and a spaced-apart configuration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the first expansion plate and the second expansion plate are coupled with a plurality of shoulder bolts that extend between the first expansion plate and the second expansion plate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of shoulder bolts are threaded through the second expansion plate and through a plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots in the first expansion plate, slidably securing the first expansion plate to the second expansion plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: moving the first expansion plate and the second expansion plate from the abutting configuration to the spaced-apart configuration; and rotating the first expansion plate relative to the second expansion plate to move the plurality of shoulder bolts into a locked position in the plurality of circumferentially-spaced slots, securing the first expansion plate and the second expansion plate in the spaced-apart configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: prior to moving the first expansion plate and the second expansion plate from the abutting configuration to the spaced-apart configuration, moving the expandable portion from the extended position to the retracted position; and after moving the first expansion plate and the second expansion plate from the abutting configuration to the spaced-apart configuration, moving the expandable portion from the retracted position to the extended position to engage the reel.