Cable reel and system of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10988342-B2
Application number	US-202017073449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2020
Priority date	Feb 27, 2015
Publication date	Apr 27, 2021
Grant date	Apr 27, 2021

Abstract

A system for using a cable reel apparatus that includes providing components of a separable cable reel for assembly of a cable reel apparatus. The components include a first frame, a second frame, and the second frame is separate from the first frame. A first flange is configured to engage the first frame. The outer side of the first flange faces the first frame when the first flange is engaged therewith. A second flange is configured to engage the second frame. The outer side of the second flange faces the second frame when the second flange is engaged therewith. The system also includes providing a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable that is separate from the separable cable reel. The first and second flanges are configured to releasably couple with one another to support the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable therebetween.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for using a cable reel apparatus, comprising:
providing components of a separable cable reel for assembly of a cable reel apparatus, the components of the separable cable reel including,
a first frame,
a second frame, the second frame being separate from the first frame,
a first flange configured to engage the first frame, the first flange having an inner side and an outer side, the outer side of the first flange faces the first frame when the first flange is engaged therewith,
a second flange configured to engage the second frame, the second flange having an inner side and an outer side, the outer side of the second flange faces the second frame when the second flange is engaged therewith;

providing a bag having a base and a cover, wherein the bag is sized to hold the cable reel apparatus when assembled, the first frame has a geometry configured for placement in the base of the bag, and the second frame has a geometry configured for placement at or near the cover of the bag; and
providing a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable that is separate from the separable cable reel,
wherein the first and second flanges are configured to releasably couple with one another to support the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable therebetween.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising assembling the cable reel apparatus by releasably coupling the first and second flanges such that the respective inner sides thereof face one another to support the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable therebetween along a central longitudinal axis of the separable cable reel.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising disassembling the cable reel apparatus by decoupling the first and second flanges.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the base of the bag has a cable payout opening sized for dispensing cable from the cable reel apparatus.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the geometry of the first and second frames is substantially square.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein each of the first and second flanges has a substantially disc shape, and the disc shape is smaller than the geometry of the respective first and second frames.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second flanges includes a hub portion that is receivable in an inner diameter of the prepackaged, pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the hub portion extends transversely from the inner side of the at least one of the first and second flanges.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the hub portion is an elongated wall.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first flange is one-piece and the second flange is one-piece.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second flanges are configured to interlock with one another.

12. A system for using a cable reel apparatus, comprising:
providing components of a separable cable reel for assembly of a cable reel apparatus, the components of the separable cable reel including,
a first frame,
a second frame, the second frame being separate from the first frame,
a first flange having an inner side and an outer side, the first flange being configured for engaging the first frame such that the outer side of the first flange faces the first frame, and the first flange having a first hub portion on the inner side of the first flange, and
a second flange having an inner side and an outer side, the second flange being configured for engaging the second frame such that the outer side of the second flange faces the second frame, and the second flange having a second hub portion on the inner side of the second flange; and

providing a bag having a base and a cover, wherein the bag is sized to hold the cable reel apparatus when assembled, the first frame is configured to be disposed in the base of the bag, and the second frame is configured to be disposed at or near the cover of the bag; and
providing a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable that is separate from the separable cable reel, and
wherein the first and second hub portions are sized to fit within the inner diameter of the coil of cable and are configured to releasably couple with one another to form a hub member for supporting the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable between the first and second flanges.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable is prepackaged with plastic wrap.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first hub portion has an inner friction surface and the second hub portion has an outer friction surface such that when the first and second hub portions are engaged, a friction fit is formed therebetween.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein one of the first and second hub portions is an elongated annular wall and the other of the first and second hub portions is a truncated annular wall, and the elongated and truncated walls extend substantially perpendicularly to a plane of the inner side of the respective first or second flange.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first flange and the first hub portion are one-piece and the second flange and the second hub portion are one-piece.

17. The system of claim 12 , further comprising assembling the cable reel apparatus by releasably coupling the first and second hub portions to form a hub member to support the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable therebetween along a central longitudinal axis of the separable cable reel.

18. The system of claim 17 , further comprising disassembling the first and second hub portions.

19. A system for using a cable reel apparatus, comprising:
providing components of a separable cable reel for assembly of a cable reel apparatus, the components of the separable cable reel including,
a bag having a base and a cover, wherein the bag is sized to hold the cable reel apparatus when assembled,
a first frame sized to be disposed in the base of the bag,
a second frame sized to be disposed at the cover of the bag, the second frame being separate from the first frame,
a first flange configured to engage the first frame, the first flange having an inner side and an outer side, the outer side of the first flange faces the first frame when the first flange is engaged therewith,
a second flange configured to engage the second frame, the second flange having an inner side and an outer side, the outer side of the second flange faces the second frame when the second flange is engaged therewith,
a hub portion extending from the inner side of one of the first and second flanges; and

providing a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable that is separate from the separable cable reel,
wherein the first and second flanges are configured to releasably couple with one another to support the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable on the hub portion therebetween, and
positioning the bag with the separable cable reel received therein in a horizontal orientation such that a longitudinal axis of the separable cable reel is horizontal, and
wherein the base of the bag includes a payout opening sized for dispensing cable of the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable therebetween once the bag and the separable cable reel are positioned in the horizontal orientation.

20. The system of claim 19 , further comprising assembling the cable reel apparatus by releasably coupling the first and second flanges such that the respective inner sides thereof face one another to support the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable therebetween along a central longitudinal axis of the separable cable reel.

Assignees

• Amphenol Corp

Inventors

• Thakare Rakesh
• Song Caichun
• Bowen Phillip S
• Bryant Marvin
• Boucher Paul R
• Holt Barry

Classifications

• B65H75/242

  Expansible spindles, mandrels or chucks, e.g. for securing or releasing cores, holders or packages · CPC title

• B65H75/22

  collapsible; with removable parts · CPC title

• B65H75/245

  by deformation of an elastic or flexible material (B65H75/2437 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65H75/2281

  Snap-fit connections · CPC title

• B65H75/2227

  with a flange fixed to the hub part · CPC title