Collapsible reel

Claim 2

A collapsible light weight reel including a pair of flanges having a central aperture through each flange and a core member comprising a pair of generally parallel members spaced on opposite sides of a reel axis extending between the flanges, each parallel member including a central panel, side panels coextensive therewith, means pivotally securing said side panels to the opposite side edges of said central panel for pivotal movement about the reel axis, tabs, means pivotally securing said tabs to the opposite end edges of said central panel only for movement about axes transverse to that of the reel axis, said tabs extending through said apertures of said flanges and means securing said tabs to said flanges so that by parallelogram folding action said reel can be moved from a collapsed position in which said parallel members overlap with one flange underlying and the other flange overlying said overlapped parallel members to a fully erect position in which the end edges of said side panels abut the inner faces of said flanges and said side panels of one parallel member overlap the confronting side panels of the other parallel member, said overlapped side panels being unsecured to each other.

Claim 3

The reel of claim 1 wherein said means pivotally securing said side panels to the opposite side edges of said central panel includes axially extending fold lines.

Claim 4

The reel of claim 1 wherein said means pivotally securing said tabs to the opposite end edges of said central panel includes transverse fold lines.

Claim 5

The reel of claim 2 wherein said means pivotally securing said tabs to the opposite end edges of said central panel includes transverse fold lines.

Claim 6

The reel of claim 4 wherein said apertures in said flanges are non-circular and are adapted to nonslippingly receive a non-circular shaft therethrough.

Claim 7

The reel of claim 4 and an opening in said flange communicative with said flange aperture and of lesser dimensions for the threading of a flexible member therethrough to initiate the reeling.

Claim 8

The reel of claim 4 wherein said central panel includes a further axially extending fold line centrally thereof and flat substantially triangular portions at its ends, the bases of said triangular portions being the transverse fold lines connecting said tabs to said central panel and said further axially extending fold line centrally thereof terminating at the apexes of said triangular portions whereby when the reel is fully erected, the contour of said core will be substantially circular.

Claim 9

The reel of claim 7 and at least two sets of side panels on opposite sides of and coextensive with said central panel, each set of side panels having one panel which is secured to the side edge of said central panel by an axially extending fold line and the other panel being secured to said one side panel by an axially extending fold line to thereby provide at least five axially extending fold lines so that when the reel is fully erected, the contour of said core will be substantially circular.

Claim 10

A collapsible light weight reel including a pair of flanges having a central aperture through each flange and a core member comprising a pair of generally parallel members spaced on opposite sides of a reel axis extending between the flanges, each parallel member including a central panel, side panels coextensive therewith, means pivotally securing said side panels to the opposite side edges of said central panel for pivotal movement about the reel axis, tabs, means pivotally securing said tabs to the opposite end edges of said central panel for movement about axes transverse to that of the reel axis, slots on both sides of said flange apertures, said tabs extending through said slots and overlApping each other, means securing said overlapped tabs to each other and to said flange, said tabs having apertures therein of the same general contour of said flange apertures and registering with them to thereby reinforce them, so that by parallelogram folding action said reel can be moved from a collapsed position in which said parallel members overlap with one flange underlying and the other flange overlying said overlapped parallel members to a fully erect position in which the end edges of said side panels abut the inner faces of said flanges and said side panels of one parallel member overlap the confronting side panels of the other parallel member.

Claim 11

A collapsible light weight reel including a pair of flanges having a central aperture through each flange and a core member comprising a pair of generally parallel members spaced on opposite sides of a reel axis extending between the flanges, each parallel member including a central panel, side panels coextensive therewith, means pivotally securing said side panels to the opposite side edges of said central panel for pivotal movement about the reel axis, tabs, means pivotally securing said tabs to the opposite end edges of said central panel for movement about axes transverse to that of the reel axis, slots on both sides of said flange apertures, said tabs extending through said slots and overlApping each other, means securing said overlapped tabs to each other and to said flange, said tabs having apertures therein of the same general contour of said flange apertures and registering with them to thereby reinforce them, so that by parallelogram folding action said reel can be moved from a collapsed position in which said parallel members overlap with one flange underlying and the other flange overlying said overlapped parallel members to a fully erect position in which the end edges of said side panels abut the inner faces of said flanges and said side panels of one parallel member overlap the confronting side panels of the other parallel member.