Collapsible cable spool

Claim 2

A collapsible spool having a pair of opposed spaced flanges, each of said flanges having a plurality of corresponding radially disposed flutes of substantially U-shaped cross section, said spool comprising: a plurality of core sectors, each of said core sectors incluidng a pair of bar segments, a pivotal connection between said bar segments at their adjacent ends, means for limiting the movement of said pivotal connection in one direction to prevent the alignment of said bar segments, pivotal means mounting the opposite ends of said bar segments to said opposed flanges within corresponding flutes thereof, said core sectors being mounted in circumferentially spaced relationship to each other on said flanges to form an open core, said bar segments being arranged in end-to-end relationship, said pivotal connection including a U-shaped clip member arranged to embrace adjacent ends of said bar segments, and a pivot pin connecting each of said bar segments to said clip member.

Claim 3

The collapsible spool set forth in claim 1 wherein said pivotal means includes a pivot pin through said opposite ends of said bar segments, and means for mounting said pin between the walls of said U-shaped flutes, permitting said bar segments to fold into said flutes.

Claim 4

The collapsible spool set forth in claim 1 wherein each segment of said pair of bar segments is of equal length.

Claim 5

The collapsible spool set forth in claim 1 wherein: said means for limiting the movement of said pivotal connection comprises a locking means including a notch in the adjacent end of each of said bar segments to engage against an adjacent portion of said clip member to limit pivotal movement of said bars in one direction.

Claim 6

The collapsible spool as set forth in claim 1 wherein said core segments are of an odd number so that none of said pivotal mounting means lies in the same plane.

Claim 7

A collapsible spool having a pair of opposed spaced flanges, each of said flanges having a plurality of corresponding radially disposed flutes of substantially U-shaped cross section, said spool comprising: a plurality of core sectors, each of said core sectors including a pair of bar segments, a pivotal connection between said bar segments at their adjacent ends, means for limiting the movement of said pivotal connection in one direction to prevent the alignment of said bar segments, pivotal means mounting the opposite ends of said bar segments to said opposed flanges within corresponding flutes thereof, said core sectors being mounted in circumferentially spaced relationship to each other on said flanges to form an open core, said bar segments being arranged in overlapping relationship, and said pivotal connection including a single pivot pin extending through the overlapping portion of said bars, said means for limiting the movement of said pivotal connection comprising a locking means including a notch in each of said overlapping eNds of said bar segments, and a stop block fixed to each of said bar segments adjacent said pivot pin to receive one of said notches.

Claim 8

A collapsible spool having a pair of opposed spaced flanges, each of said flanges having a plurality of corresponding radially disposed flutes of substantially U-shaped cross section, said spool comprising: a plurality of core sectors, each of said core sectors including a pair of bar segments, a pivotal connection between said bar segments at their adjacent ends, means for limiting the movement of said pivotal connection in one direction to prevent the alignment of said bar segments, pivotal means mounting the opposite ends of said bar segments to said opposed flanges within corresponding flutes thereof, said core sectors being mounted in circumferentially spaced relationship to each other on said flanges to form an open core, said bar segments being arranged in overlapping relationship, and said pivotal connection including a single pivot pin extending through the overlapping portion of said bars, said means for limiting the movement of said pivotal connection comprising a locking means including a notch in each of said overlapping eNds of said bar segments, and a stop block fixed to each of said bar segments adjacent said pivot pin to receive one of said notches.