Spring-loaded expandable reel

Claim 1

A reel having inner and outer telescoping tubular hub portions having lapping inner ends, spaced right and left end flanges attached to outer ends of said hub portions respectively, said end flanges and their attached hub portions forming right and left basic reel sections, spring means attached to said basic reel sections and urging said flanges towards each other, and in which said spring means comprises at least one spring attached to said flanges, said spring having convolutions intermediate its ends and having a hook on at least one of its ends and formed integrally with the rest of said spring to form a spring-and-hook assembly, said hook having two sides one being adjacent the terminal end of said spring-and-hook assembly, a holder having a first opening therethrough receiving said one side of said hook, saiD holder having a second opening therethrough spaced from said first opening and receiving therethrough the other side of said hook, said second opening being large enough to receive therethrough at the same time both sides of said hook, one of said flanges having a spring receiving passage therethrough extending substantially parallel to said axis and large enough to receive therethrough both sides of said hook at the same time, said holder being disposed on an outer side of said passage, said holder being larger than said passage for preventing the hook disposed therein from passing inwardly of the respective flange.