Convertible reel assembly

A reel assembly for accommodating an elongated ribbon of flexible sheet material comprising:

• a first reel section having a first hub and a first side member surrounding and attached to the first hub, a second reel section having a second hub and a second side member surrounding and attached to the second hub, each of said first and second hubs having a a base wall and a plurality of ear means cooperating with each other to hold the first and second hubs in engagement with each other, each ear means includes an ear, each base wall has an arcuate slot located about each ear, each ear having a generally flat first section projected into the slot and a second section joined to the first section, said second section inclined outwardly from the plane of the base wall, said ears of the first reel section projected through the slots in the base wall of the second reel section, said ears of the second reel section projected to the slots in the base wall of the first reel section, said first sections of adjacent engaging ears being located in engagement with each other to hold the base walls of the first and second reel sections together, and lock means for retaining the ear means in cooperative engagement with each other whereby the reel sections are locked together to form the reel assembly, said lock means comprising a plurality of first lips projected outwardly from the base wall of the hub of the first reel section, and a plurality of second lips projected outwardly from the base wall of the hub of the second reel section, said first and second base walls having holes adjacent said first and second lips, said first and second lips projected through adjacent holes and engageable with each other when the first and second reel sections are locked together.

A reel assembly for accommodating an elongated ribbon of flexible sheet material comprising:

• a first reel section having a first hub and a first side member surrounding and attached to the first hub, a second reel section having a second hub and a second side member surrounding and attached to the second hub, said first and second hub each having wall means projected laterally from the side member attached to the hub, and a base wall joined to the wall means, said base wall having a plurality of ears extended in a first circumferential direction, slot means surrounding each ear, and locking lip means for holding said ears in engagement with each other, said base wall having holes for accommodating adjacent lip means whereby the base wall of the first and second reel sections are located in general surface engagement with each other, each ear having a generally flat first section projected into the slot and a second section joined to the flat first section, said second section inclined outwardly from the plane of the base wall, said ears of the first reel section projected through the slots in the base wall of the second reel section, said ears of the second reel section projected throguh the slots in the base wall of the first reel section, said flat sections of adjacent engaging ears being located in engagement with each other to hold the base walls of the first and second reel sections together with said locking lip means holding said flat sections in engagement with each other.

A reel assembly for accommodating an elongated ribbon of flexible sheet material comprising:

• a first reel section having a first hub and a first side member surrounding and attached to the first hub, a second reel section having a second hub and a second side member surrounding and attached to the second hub, said first and second hubs each having wall means projected laterally from the side member attached to the hub, and a base wall joined to the wall means, said base wall having a plurality of ears extended in a first circumferential direction, slot means surrounding each ear, and locking lip means for holding said ears in engagement with each other, said base wall having holes for accommodating adjacent lip means whereby the base wall of the first and second reel sections are located in general surface engagement with each other, each ear having a generally flat section projected into the slot and a generally semi-circular section joined to the flat section, said semi-circular section inclined outwardly from the plane of the base wall, said ears of the first reel section projected through the slots in the base wall of the second reel section, said ears of the second reel section projected through the slots in the base wall of the first reel section, said flat sections of adjacent engaging ears being located in engagement with each other to hold the base walls of the first and second reel sections together, said locking lip means comprises a plurality of first lips projected outwardly from the base wall of the first hub and a plurality of second lips projected outwardly from the base wall of the second hub, said first and second lips projected through adjacent holes and engageable with each other when the first and second reel sections are locked together.