Boxed pay-out reel for optic fiber cable or wire or the like, with smooth pay-out, high-impact and cable end holding features

An apparatus comprising:

• a spool assembly having first and second flanges;
• first and second end plates supporting respective ends of the spool assembly to allow rotation of the spool assembly;
• means for maintaining the first and second flanges of the spool assembly in a spaced relationship from plate surfaces of the first and second end plates;
• a box enclosing the spool assembly and the first and second end plates,
• the box having a horizontal slot defined by perforations on the box, the box having a vertical slit with a first end meeting with the slot, and the box having a first starburst cut at a second end of the vertical slit.

An apparatus comprising:

• a spool assembly having first and second flanges;
• first and second end plates supporting respective ends of the spool assembly to allow rotation of the spool assembly;
• means for maintaining the first and second flanges of the spool assembly in a spaced relationship from plate surfaces of the first and second end plates;
• and
• a box enclosing the spool assembly and the first and second end plates, said box including a first bottom flap adjacent to a first major side panel of the box, the first bottom flap having two protruding tabs separated and defined by a cutaway portion therebetween, and further defined by respective cutaway portions on respective minor sides of the first bottom flap, the portion of the first bottom flap between the two protruding tabs receiving and holding a tab of a second bottom flap adjacent to a second major side panel of the box and separated therefrom by a fold line, and the first bottom flap being defined by the respective cutaway portions on the respective minor sides of the first bottom flap to allow clearance for rotation of respective first and second flanges of said spool assembly.

An apparatus comprising:

• a spool assembly having first and second flanges;
• first and second end plates supporting respective ends of the spool assembly to allow rotation of the spool assembly;
• means for maintaining the first and second flanges of the spool assembly in a spaced relationship from plate surfaces of the first and second end plates;
• and
• a box enclosing the spool assembly and the first and second end plates, the box including
• a first bottom flap adjacent to a first major side panel of the box and separated therefrom by a fold line, the first bottom flap having two protruding tabs separated and defined by a cutaway portion therebetween, and further defined by respective cutaway portions on respective minor sides of the first bottom flap,
• a second bottom flap adjacent to a second major side panel of the box and separated therefrom by a fold line, the second bottom flap having a tab,
• a third bottom flap adjacent to a first minor side panel of the box and separated therefrom by a fold line, and
• a fourth bottom flap adjacent to a second minor side panel of the box and separated therefrom by a fold line,
• the first, second, third and fourth bottom flaps being foldable at respective fold lines to define the bottom of said box, the portion of the first bottom flap between the two protruding tabs receiving and holding the tab of the second bottom flap to hold together the first, second, third and fourth bottom flaps when folded, and the third and fourth bottom flaps, when folded, covering respective cutaway portions on respective minor sides of the first bottom flap, the first bottom flap being defined by the cutaway portions on the respective minor sides of the first bottom flap to allow clearance for rotation of respective first and second flanges of said spool assembly.