Apparatus and method for a free-spinning wire dispensing reel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10000356-B1
Application number	US-201615251695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Nov 5, 2012
Publication date	Jun 19, 2018
Grant date	Jun 19, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus and method for dispensing wire or cable from a reel assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly for dispensing wire from any surface. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly and the external bay. The external bay is capable of freely rotation relative to the outer flange assembly and the inner flange assembly. In another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. In yet another embodiment, wire is dispensed from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly, an outer flange assembly, and an external bay.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for dispensing wire, the apparatus comprising:
an outer flange assembly, wherein the outer flange assembly further comprises two outer walls connected by a pipe;
an inner flange assembly interposed between the two outer walls, wherein the inner flange assembly further comprises at least two inner walls connected by a drum and wherein the radius of the drum is greater than the radius of the pipe;
a connection mechanism connects the at least two inner walls and the pipe wherein the inner flange assembly can freely rotate relative to the outer flange assembly; and
a removable device for connection with one outer wall and at least one inner wall at a point radially exterior to the drum, wherein the device, when connected for locking of the apparatus, impedes the rotation of the inner flange assembly in relation to the outer flange assembly.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the removable device further comprises:
a base;
at least one minor peg attached to the base; and
at least one major peg attached to the base, wherein the at least one major peg contacts one outer wall and at least one inner wall when the removable devices is connected for locking of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one major peg is inserted into an opening in the outer wall.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the at least one major peg is inserted into an opening in the outer wall and into an opening in the at least one inner wall.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one minor peg contacts one outer wall.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one minor peg is inserted into an opening in the outer wall.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner flange assembly is comprised of at least three inner walls connect by a drum.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein multiple wire dispensing bays are formed by the at least three inner walls.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the multiple dispensing bays rotate in unison.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein one of the multiple dispensing bays rotates independently of other dispensing bays.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an external bay assembly attached to the outside of the outer flange assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the external bay further comprises at least two supporting walls connected by an external drum.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the external bay rotates independently from the outer flange assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the external bay rotates independently from the inner flange assembly.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the external bay is removable.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wherein the removable device, when connected for chocking, impedes the rotation of the outer flange assembly while allowing free rotation of the inner flange assembly and wherein the device, when connected for chocking, contacts a surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one inner wall is smaller than the at least one outer wall.

Assignees

• Encore Wire Corp

Inventors

• Bigbee Jr William T
• Rhoads John L

Classifications

• B65H49/32 Primary

  Stands or frameworks · CPC title

• B65H49/324

  Constructional details · CPC title

• B65H75/4428

  acting on the reel or on a reel blocking mechanism · CPC title

• B65H75/146

  with at least one intermediate flange between the two end flanges · CPC title

• B65H75/44

  Constructional details · CPC title