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US 8,317,121 B2Granted
Reel apparatus with decorative housing
AssigneeGreat Stuff, Inc.
InventorJames B. A. Tracey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reel includes a substantially spherical housing configured to enclose a rotatable reel drum and an aperture sized to closely surround a linear material extending through the aperture. The linear material is spoolable and unspoolable from the reel drum while the housing encloses the reel drum. The housing includes decoration depicting a ball indicative of a game or type of recreation, a globe, a robot, a gazing ball, at least one flag, camouflage, foliage, diamond plate, or a race car.
Claims21
A reel comprising:
- a substantially spherical housing supported by, and mechanically coupled to, a support structure and configured to enclose a rotatable element about which linear materials can be spooled;
- an aperture within the housing, the aperture sized to closely surround a linear material extending through the aperture, the linear material spoolable and unspoolable from the rotatable element while the housing encloses the rotatable element, wherein said housing comprises decoration depicting a ball indicative of a game or type of recreation;
- wherein the support structure is configured to support the reel housing on a support surface during rotation of the element to unspool the linear material;
- wherein the support structure is mechanically coupled to a plurality of base members;
- and
- wherein the base members comprise one or more of feet, wheels, and casters.
3 more elements
A reel comprising:
- a substantially spherical housing supported by, and mechanically coupled to, a support structure and configured to enclose a rotatable element about which linear materials can be spooled;
- an aperture within the housing, the aperture sized to closely surround a linear material extending through the aperture, the linear material spoolable and unspoolable from the rotatable element while the housing encloses the rotatable element, wherein said housing comprises decoration depicting a globe;
- wherein the support structure is configured to support the reel housing on a support surface during rotation of the element to unspool the linear material;
- wherein the support structure is mechanically coupled to a plurality of base members;
- and
- wherein the base members comprise one or more of feet, wheels, and casters.
3 more elements
A reel comprising:
- a substantially spherical housing supported by, and mechanically coupled to, a support structure and configured to enclose a rotatable element about which linear materials can be spooled;
- an aperture within the housing, the aperture sized to closely surround a linear material extending through the aperture, the linear material spoolable and unspoolable from the rotatable element while the housing encloses the rotatable element, wherein said housing comprises decoration depicting camouflage;
- wherein the support structure is configured to support the reel housing on a support surface during rotation of the element to unspool the linear material;
- wherein the support structure is mechanically coupled to a plurality of base members;
- and
- wherein the base members comprise one or more of feet, wheels, and casters.
3 more elements
A reel comprising:
- a substantially spherical housing supported by, and mechanically coupled to, a support structure and configured to enclose a rotatable element about which linear materials can be spooled;
- an aperture within the housing, the aperture sized to closely surround a linear material extending through the aperture, the linear material spoolable and unspoolable from the rotatable element while the housing encloses the rotatable element, wherein said housing comprises decoration depicting foliage;
- wherein the support structure is configured to support the reel housing on a support surface during rotation of the element to unspool the linear material;
- wherein the support structure is mechanically coupled to a plurality of base members;
- and
- wherein the base members comprise one or more of feet, wheels, and casters.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.