Patent US668974A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3661341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible reel
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-11-24
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1989-11-24
Abstract
Abstract A reel for wire, rope, or similar materials having two rigid flat flanges spaced apart in parallel planes normal to a common axis and connected at angularly spaced points around the axis by a plurality of elongated fingers which are formed of a foldable or flexible material permitting movement of the flanges toward each other and which are of a length correlated with the length of an axially rigid spacer surrounding the fingers and engaging the flanges to hold them in spaced relation while the fingers are under tension.
Inventors
- 👤 Stephen L Eifrid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:33
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H75/00; B65H75/02; B65H75/18; B65H75/22; B65H75/2245; B65H75/04; B65H75/08; B65H75/14; B65H75/2254; B65H75/2281; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/30; B65H2701/31; B65H2701/50; B65H2701/51; B65H2701/511; B65H2701/5112; B65H2701/513; B65H2701/5136; B65H2701/515; B65H2701/5152; B65H2701/51526; B65H2701/51528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
167 words
A reel having, in combination two rigid flat flanges spaced apart in parallel planes normal to a common axis extending through centers of the flanges, a plurality of elongated fingers of equal length spanning and connected at opposite ends to said flanges and located at points spaced angularly equal dIstances around said axis, said fingers being foldable transversely of their lengths to permit movement of the flanges toward each other, and a hollow tubular axially rigid spacer encircling said fingers on their outer sides with its ends engaging opposed surfaces on said flanges to hold the flanges spaced apart, said fingers being formed of a stretchable resilient material and the axial length of said spacer being correlated with and greater than the relaxed length of said fingers between the flanges so that the flanges are spaced apart a distance great enough to place said fingers under tension and the fingers exert a force urging the flanges against the spacer ends to hold the parts in assembled relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
167 words
A reel having, in combination two rigid flat flanges spaced apart in parallel planes normal to a common axis extending through centers of the flanges, a plurality of elongated fingers of equal length spanning and connected at opposite ends to said flanges and located at points spaced angularly equal dIstances around said axis, said fingers being foldable transversely of their lengths to permit movement of the flanges toward each other, and a hollow tubular axially rigid spacer encircling said fingers on their outer sides with its ends engaging opposed surfaces on said flanges to hold the flanges spaced apart, said fingers being formed of a stretchable resilient material and the axial length of said spacer being correlated with and greater than the relaxed length of said fingers between the flanges so that the flanges are spaced apart a distance great enough to place said fingers under tension and the fingers exert a force urging the flanges against the spacer ends to hold the parts in assembled relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The reel of claim 1 in which said spacer is formed as two semi-cylindrical halves of a rigid tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The reel of claim 1 in which shoulders are formed on said flanges outwardly of and adjacent said opposed surfaces and face radially and inwardly to engage radially and outwardly facing surfaces on the ends of said spacer to prevent outward movement of the spacer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The reel of claim 3 in which said shoulders are continuous annular surfaces and said spacer is of cylindrical shape with an outer diameter slightly less than the diameter of the shoulders to permit movement of the spacer ends inwardly behind the shoulders.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The reel of claim 3 in which said spacer is formed as two semi-cylindrical halves of a rigid tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The reel of claim 1 in which said fingers extend along and lie closely adjacent the inner side of said spacer to provide radial support for the spacer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The reel of claim 1 in which said flanges are formed with openings inwardly of said spacer and said fingers are formed as parts of core members having flat sections lying against the outer sides of the flanges with the fingers of each core member extending inwardly through the flange openings and connected to the fingers of the other member between the flanges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The reel of claim 1 in which said fingers are formed as integral radial projections of core members having flat central hubs lying against the outer sides of said flanges with the fingers extending inwardly through apertures in the flanges and connected to each other intermediate the flanges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The reel of claim 8 in which said apertures are arcuate slots having outer edges lying on a circle equal approximately to the outer diameter of said spacer and inner edges spaced from the outer edges a distance equal approximately to the combined radial thickness of said spacer and one of said fingers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The reel of claim 1 in which said fingers include separable sections adapted at opposite ends for connection to the flanges to facilitate substitution of fingers of different lengths to provide different axial lengths of the reel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The reel of claim 1 in which said flanges are formed with integral connecting elements adapted to receive cooperating ends of said fingers to connect the fingers to the flanges.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The reel of claim 11 in which said fingers and connecting elements are formed as integral molded parts of said flanges alternating in angularly spaced relation about the flanges.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |