Collapsible spool
OwnerBarney L. Culpinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible spool for storing, winding, unwinding and transporting cable products and the like is provided. The collapsible spool includes a pair of opposing side panels having a plurality of foldable arms extending therebetween. The foldable arms include a first segment and a second segment pivotally joined at adjacent ends for allowing the arms to fold radially outward for collapsing the spool. Each arm is hingedly connected at each end to the opposing side panels. In particular, each arm can include an inner hinge arrangement located at one end and an outer hinge arrangement located at an opposite end. The inner hinge and outer hinge prevent the arms from folding radially inward. Further, the inner hinge and outer hinge fold together when the spool is collapsed.
Claims18
A collapsible spool comprising:
- a pair of opposing side panels, each of said panels including a circular center portion and a flange portion;
- a plurality of foldable arms extending between and interconnecting said opposing side panels, each of said arms being hingedly connected to said opposing side panels at opposite ends, said arms being spaced circumferentially around said respective center portions of said opposing side panels, wherein each of said foldable arms includes a first segment and a second segment, said segments being pivotally joined at adjacent ends;
- and
- an inner hinge for connecting one end of each of said arms to one of said side panels and an outer hinge for connecting an opposite end of each of said arms to the other of said side panels, said inner hinge comprising a hinge member pivotally connecting said end of said arm to said respective side panel, said outer hinge comprising a first hinge plate spaced apart from a second hinge plate, said first hinge plate and said second hinge plate pivotally connecting said opposite end of said arm to the other of said side panels, said first and second hinge plates being spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow said hinge member of said inner hinge to come to rest in between said hinge plates when said arm is folded.
A collapsible spool defining an open position adapted to receive a cable product and a closed and collapsed position, said collapsible spool comprising;
- a pair of opposing circular side panels, said side panels being spaced along a longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of foldable arms extending between and interconnecting said opposing side panels, each of said foldable arms being hingedly connected to said opposing side panels at opposite ends, each of said foldable arms further including a first segment and a second segment, said segments being pivotally joined at adjacent ends;
- an inner hinge for connecting a first end of each of said arms to one of said side panels, said inner hinge comprising a hinge member pivotally connecting said end of said arm to said respective side panel at a substantially central position on said end of said arm;
- and
- an outer hinge for pivotally connecting a second and opposite end of each of said arms to the other of said side panels, said outer hinge comprising a first hinge connection to said opposite end spaced apart from a second hinge connection to said opposite end, said first and second hinge connections being spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow said hinge member of said inner hinge to come to rest in between said hinge connections when said arm is folded.
A collapsible spool defining an open position adapted to receive a cable product and a collapsed and closed position, said collapsible spool comprising:
- a pair of opposing circular side panels, said side panels being spaced along a longitudinal axis;
- a plurality of foldable arms extending between and interconnecting said opposing side panels, each of said arms being hingedly connected to said opposing side panels at opposite ends, wherein each of said foldable arms includes a first segment and a second segment, said segments being pivotally joined at adjacent ends for allowing each of said arms to fold radially outward relative to said longitudinal axis;
- an inner hinge for connecting a first end of each of said arms to one of said side panels, said inner hinge including a hinge member attached to said side panel and pivotally connected to at least one inner hinge plate centrally mounted to said first end of said arm;
- an outer hinge for connecting a second and opposite end of each of said arms to the other of said side panels, said outer hinge including a pair of spaced apart outer hinge plates pivotally connecting said second end of said arm to said side panel, said outer hinge plates being spaced apart a distance sufficient to allow said hinge member and said at least one inner hinge plate of said inner hinge to come to rest in between said outer hinge plates when said arm is folded;
- and
- a first abutment structure at said first end of each of said arms and a second abutment structure at said second end of each of said arms, wherein, when said spool is placed in said open position, said first abutment structure contacts one of said opposing side panels while said second abutment structure contacts the other of said side panels.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.