Spool assembly for snap fit of flanges and spindle having guiding members for aligning with the flanges spindle

A spool assembly comprising a spindle formed as a tubular section having an inner surface and having a first end with a first end face and having a second end with a second end face;

• a first guiding notch provided in the first end face of the spindle;
• a second guiding notch provided in the second end face of the spindle;
• a first locking means furnished near the first end of the spindle;
• a second locking means furnished near the second end of the spindle;
• a first flange comprising
• a first disk,
• a first hub centeredly and fixedly attached to the first disk and having a tubular shape such that an outer face of the first hub matches the inner surface of the spindle,
• a first guiding member protruding outwardly from the first hub for engaging the first guiding notch to steer the spindle relative to the first hub into an aligned position upon insertion of the first hub into the first end of the spindle and for allowing the spindle to slide over the first hub in said aligned position,
• a first locking member on the first hub for engaging the first locking means such that upon said insertion of the first hub into the first end of the spindle a connection between the first locking member and the first locking means is obtained which is stable against pulling forces in an axial direction;
• a second flange comprising
• a second disk,
• a second hub centeredly and fixedly attached to the second disk and having a tubular shape such that an outer face of the second hub matches the inner surface of the spindle,
• a second guiding member protruding outwardly from the second hub for engaging the second guiding notch to steer the spindle relative to the second hub into an aligned position upon insertion of the second hub into the second end of the spindle and for allowing the spindle to slide over the second hub in said aligned position,
• a second locking member on the second hub for engaging the second locking means such that upon said insertion of the second hub into the second end of the spindle a connection between the second locking member and the second locking means is obtained which is stable against the pulling forces in said axial direction,
• wherein the first guiding notch is recessed into a wall of the spindle and formed as an open slot having a concavely rounded surface at a bottom of the first guiding notch;
• and
• wherein the second guiding notch is recessed into the wall of the spindle and formed as an open slot having a concavely rounded surface at a bottom of the second guiding notch.

A spool assembly comprising

• a spindle formed as a tubular section having an inner surface and having a first end with a first end face and having a second end with a second end face;
• a first guiding notch provided in the first end face of the spindle;
• a second guiding notch provided in the second end face of the spindle;
• a first locking means furnished near the first end of the spindle;
• a second locking means furnished near the second end of the spindle;
• a first flange comprising
• a first disk,
• a first hub centeredly and fixedly attached to the first disk and having a tubular shape such that an outer face of the first hub matches the inner surface of the spindle,
• a first guiding projection on the first hub for engaging the first guiding notch and for allowing the spindle to slide over the first hub in a proper aligned position,
• a first locking member on the first hub for engaging the first locking means such that upon insertion of the first hub into the first end of the spindle a connection between the first locking member and the first locking means is obtained which is stable against pulling forces in an axial direction, wherein the first guiding projection induces a relative rotation of the first hub and the spindle upon said insertion of the first hub into the first end of the spindle to align said first locking member and said first locking means;
• a second flange comprising;
• a second disk,
• a second hub centeredly and fixedly attached to the second disk and having a tubular shape such that an outer face of the second hub matches the inner surface of the spindle,
• a second guiding projection on the second hub for engaging the second guiding notch and for allowing the spindle to slide over the second hub in a proper aligned position,
• a second locking member on the second hub for engaging the second locking means such that upon insertion of the second hub into the second end of the spindle a connection between the second locking member and the second locking means is obtained which is stable against the pulling forces in the axial direction, wherein the second guiding projection induces a relative rotation of the second hub and the spindle upon said insertion of the second hub into the second end of the spindle to align said second locking member and said second locking means.

A spool assembly comprising

• a spindle formed as a tubular section having an inner surface and having a first end with a first end face and having a second end with a second end face;
• a first guiding notch provided in the first end face of the spindle;
• a second guiding notch provided in the second end face of the spindle;
• a first locking means furnished near the first end of the spindle;
• a second locking means furnished near the second end of the spindle;
• a first flange comprising
• a first disk,
• a first hub centeredly and fixedly attached to the first disk and having a tubular shape such that an outer face of the first hub matches the inner surface of the spindle,
• a first guiding projection on the first hub for engaging the first guiding notch and for allowing the spindle to slide over the first hub in a proper aligned position,
• a first locking member on the first hub for engaging the first locking means such that upon insertion of the first hub into the first end of the spindle a connection between the first locking member and the first locking means is obtained which is stable against pulling forces in an axial direction, wherein the first guiding projection facilitates steering the first locking member and the first locking means into a locking position by inducing a rotation of the first hub relative to the spindle upon said insertion of said first hub into the first end of the spindle until said first locking member and first locking means are aligned;
• a second flange comprising
• a second disk,
• a second hub centeredly and fixedly attached to the second disk and having a tubular shape such that an outer face of the second hub matches the inner surface of the spindle,
• a second guiding projection on the second hub for engaging the second guiding notch and for allowing the spindle to slide over the second hub in a proper aligned position,
• a second locking member on the second hub for engaging the second locking means such that upon insertion of the second hub into the second end of the spindle a connection between the second locking member and the second locking means is obtained which is stable against the pulling forces in the axial direction, wherein the second guiding projection facilitates steering the second locking member and the second locking means into a locking position by inducing a rotation of the second hub relative to the spindle upon said insertion of the second hub into the second end of the spindle until said second locking member and said second locking means are aligned.