Collapsible reel for wire and cable packaging and system for stacking and transporting the same

A collapsible reel for wire and cable packaging comprising:

• a pair of disc-shaped flanges spaced along an axis of said reel;
• a plurality of collapsible strut assemblies connected at opposite ends thereof to respective said flanges, said strut assemblies being arranged parallel to said reel axis at equal radial distances from said reel axis, forming a drum between said flanges;
• each said strut assembly comprising a pair of equal length sections joined at a pivotal connection intermediate said flanges, said pivotal connection comprising a pin on one of said sections received in slots elongated parallel to said reel axis in the other of said sections, each said strut assembly section further comprising a hinged connection proximate a respective said flange, said hinged connection comprising a hinge support assembly affixed to said respective said flange in co-extensive alignment with a respective adjacent said section, a pin on one of said hinge support assembly or said section received in holes in the other of said hinge support assembly or said section establishing a hinge axis, said sections being pivotable about said hinged connections carrying said pivotal connection radially outward of said reel axis to collapse said reel;
• and clamping means at each hinged connection on at least one of said strut assemblies, said clamping means being located radially inward of said hinge axis relative to said reel axis, clamping said section and said hinge support assembly together in abutting engagement in an extended position of said strut assembly.