Reel sealing and storage apparatus

Claim 2

Reel sealing and storage apparatus comprising, in combination: a flexible band including a hanger member and adapted to be formed into a looped configuration with abutting ends so as to enwrap a reel having a central hub and circular sides attached thereto, said band having means on the underside thereof for engaging the sides of said reel; reel storing means including a hanger means for receiving the hanger member of said band; and overcentered latch means for releasably joining the abutting ends of said band, said latch means including a catch portion having a body member provided with a curvilinear lower surface for nesting against and substantially conforming to the curved surface of said band only when said band is in looped configuration.

Claim 3

The storage apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said latch means additionally includes a second portion providing an alignment boss, said alignment boss being provided with means cooperating with said body member to form a latch retention means, and both of said catch portion and second portion of the latch means being releasably mounted each upon an abutting end of said band in such manner that disassembly can be accomplisheD without the use of tools.

Claim 4

The storage apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said second portion is provided with a depending tang element and a locking tab, one of said band ends being provided with openings to receive said tang and tab respectively, said tab being angled to provide a surface which is positioned parallel and contiguous to said band undersurface when assembled thereto, and said tang being so formed as to provide a releasable detent means.

Claim 5

The storage means of claim 2 wherein: said second portion is provided at its forward end with a depending spacer flange which is positioned forwardly of a band end when said second portion is assembled to said band, said flange being of a width less than the width of said band.

Claim 6

The storage means of claim 4 wherein: said catch portion is mounted on a band end which is provided with a pair of guide legs so located and arranged at to entrap therebetween the flange of said second portion when said band is assembled in looped configuration with the abutting ends of said band in engagement, whereby lateral misalignment of said band ends is prevented; and means formed on said second portion and said opposed band end to prevent vertical misalignment of said band ends.

Claim 7

The storage means of claim 1 wherein: said catch portion includes a mounting element hingedly connected to said body member, said band end to which said catch portion is mounted being provided with a mounting stud; and means formed upon said mounting element and mounting stud for releasably pivotally mounting said mounting element to said band.

Claim 8

The storage means of claim 6 wherein: said mounting element includes a pair of rails and pivot bars, said mounting stud being provided with a journal means and guide means leading thereto for permitting assembly of said pivot bars into said journal means.

Claim 9

The storage apparatus of claim 2 wherein: said catch portion includes a mounting element hingedly connected to said body member, said band end to which said catch portion is mounted being provided with a mounting stud; and means formed upon said mounting element and mounting stud for releasably pivotally mounting said mounting element to said band.

Claim 10

The storage apparatus of claim 5 wherein: said catch portion includes a mounting element hingedly connected to said body member, said band end to which said catch portion is mounted being provided with a mounting stud; and means formed upon said mounting element and mounting stud for releasably pivotally mounting said mounting element to said band.

Claim 11

The storage apparatus of claim 8 wherein: said mounting element includes a pair of rails and pivot bars, said mounting stud being provided with a journal means and guide means leading thereto for permitting assembly of said pivot bars into said journal means.

Claim 12

A flexible band adapted to be formed into a looped configuration with abutting ends so as to enwrap a reel having a central hub and circular sides attached thereto, said band having means on the underside thereof for engaging the sides of said reel; and overcentered latch means for releasably joining the ends of said band, said latch means including: a catch retainer on the outer surface of said band at one of said ends; a mounting stud on the outer surface of an integral with said band at the other of said ends; and a catch adapted to lock to said catch retainer, said catch comprising a hollow body member that is pivotally mounted to said stud and means on said body member for locking to said catch retainer; said stud having a smaller width than said band and said hollow body member having side walls that are spaced from each other by an amount sufficient for said body member to fit over said stud, said side walls having curvilinear lower surfaces that substantially conform to the curvature of the other surface of said band when said band is in looped configuration and can substantially nest against sAid outer surface when said body member is disposed over said stud and is locked to said catch retainer.

Claim 13

A flexible band adapted to be formed into a looped configuration with abutting ends so as to enwrap a reel having a central hub and circular sides attached thereto, said band having means on the underside thereof for engaging the sides of said reel; and overcentered latch means for releasably joining the ends of said band, said latch means including: a catch retainer on the outer surface of said band at one of said ends; a mounting stud on the outer surface of an integral with said band at the other of said ends; and a catch adapted to lock to said catch retainer, said catch comprising a hollow body member that is pivotally mounted to said stud and means on said body member for locking to said catch retainer; said stud having a smaller width than said band and said hollow body member having side walls that are spaced from each other by an amount sufficient for said body member to fit over said stud, said side walls having curvilinear lower surfaces that substantially conform to the curvature of the other surface of said band when said band is in looped configuration and can substantially nest against sAid outer surface when said body member is disposed over said stud and is locked to said catch retainer.

Claim 14

A flexible band adapted to be formed into a looped configuration with abutting ends so as to enwrap a reel having a central hub and circular sides attached thereto, said band having means on the underside thereof for engaging the sides of said reel; and overcentered latch means for releasably joining the abutting ends of said band, said latch means including a catch portion on one end of said band having a body member provided with a curvilinear lower surface for nesting against and substantially conforming to the curved surface of said band only when said band is in looped configuration; said latch means additionally including a second portion on the other end of said band providing an alignment boss, said alignment boss being provided with means cooperating with said body member to form a latch retention means, both said catch portion and said second portion of said latch means being releasably mounted to said band in such manner that disassembly can be accomplished without the use of tools.

Claim 15

A flexible band adapted to be formed into a looped configuration with abutting ends so as to enwrap a reel having a central hub and circular sides attached thereto, said band having means on the underside thereof for engaging the sides of said reel; and overcentered latch means for releasably joining the abutting ends of said band, said latch means including a catch portion on one end of said band having a body member provided with a curvilinear lower surface for nesting against and substantially conforming to the curved surface of said band only when said band is in looped configuration; said latch means additionally including a second portion on the other end of said band providing an alignment boss, said alignment boss being provided with means cooperating with said body member to form a latch retention means, both said catch portion and said second portion of said latch means being releasably mounted to said band in such manner that disassembly can be accomplished without the use of tools.

Claim 16

The flexible band of claim 12 wherein: said second portion is provided with a depending tang element and a locking tab, one of said band ends being provided with openings to receive said tang and tab respectively, said tab being angled to provide a surface which is positioned parallel and contiguous to said band undersurface when assembled thereto, and said tang being so formed as to provide a releasable detent means.

Claim 17

The flexible band of claim 12 wherein: said second portion is provided at its forward end with a depending spacer flange which is positioned forwardly of a band end when said second portion is assembled to said band, said flange being of a width less than the width of said band.

Claim 18

The flexible band of claim 14 wherein: said one end of said band is provided with a pair of guide legs so located and arranged as to entrap therebetween the flange of said second portion when said band is assembled in a closed loop configuration, whereby lateral misalignment of said band ends is prevented; and means formed on said second portion and the opposed band end to prevent vertical misalignment of said band ends.

Claim 19

a flexible band adapted to be formed into a looped configuration with abutting ends so as to enwrap a reel having a central hub and circular sides attached thereto, said band having means on the underside thereof for engaging the sides of said reel; and overcentered latch means for releasably joining the abutting ends of said band, said latch means including a lower surface for nesting against and substantially conforming to the curved surface of said band only when said band is in looped configuration; said catch portion also including a mounting element hingedly connected to said body member, and a mounting stud on one end of said band; and means formed upon said mounting element and mounting stud for releasably pivotally mounting said mounting element to said band.

Claim 20

a flexible band adapted to be formed into a looped configuration with abutting ends so as to enwrap a reel having a central hub and circular sides attached thereto, said band having means on the underside thereof for engaging the sides of said reel; and overcentered latch means for releasably joining the abutting ends of said band, said latch means including a lower surface for nesting against and substantially conforming to the curved surface of said band only when said band is in looped configuration; said catch portion also including a mounting element hingedly connected to said body member, and a mounting stud on one end of said band; and means formed upon said mounting element and mounting stud for releasably pivotally mounting said mounting element to said band.

Claim 21

The flexible band of claim 16 wherein: said mounting element includes a pair of rails and pivot bars, said mounting stud being provided with a journal means and guide means leading thereto for permitting assembly of said pivot bars into said journal means.

Claim 22

The flexible band of claim 12 wherein: said catch portion includes a mounting element hingedly connected to said body member; a mounting stud on said one end of said band; and means formed upon said mounting element and mounting stud for releasably pivotally mounting said mounting element to said band.

Claim 23

The flexible band of claim 15 wherein: said catch portion includes a mounting element hingedly connected to said body member; a mounting stud on said one end of said band; and means formed upon said mounting element and mounting stud for releasably pivotally mounting said mounting element to said band.

Claim 24

The Flexible band of claim 18 wherein: said mounting element includes a pair or rails and pivot bars, said mounting stud being provided with a journal means and guide means leading thereto for permitting assembly of said pivot bars into said journal means.