US3892370A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Film spool
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1973-11-26
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1993-11-26
Abstract
Abstract A film spool comprising a barrel and transverse end flanges having inwardly facing or opposed surfaces that define the filmstorage area. A circumferentially extending ridge, radially spaced from the barrel, is formed on the inwardly facing surface of each flange and projects toward the ridge on the inwardly facing surface of the other flange. The distance between the ridges on the two flanges is slightly less than the width of film to be wound on the spool so that the ridges hold the film in a supply roll on the spool, but the leading end of the film may be drawn between the ridges with a uniform, moderate pulling force. A spool of the invention may be molded as an integral body, with the edge-portions of the flanges being pivotable in a toggle-like action from the position in which they are molded to the position in which the ridges have the described spacing.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman E Nelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 18:56
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/28; G03B17/30; B; B65; B65H; B65H75/00; B65H75/02; B65H75/04; B65H75/08; B65H75/14; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/50; B65H2701/51; B65H2701/513; B65H2701/5136; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/26; G03B2217/261
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
313 words
An integrally molded plastic spool for containing a supply roll of predetermined film comprising 1. a barrel; 2. a circular flange attached to each of the two ends of the barrel and extending transversely to the barrel, the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges being substantially parallel to one another and separated over most of their extent by at least a distance equal to the width of said predetermined film; and 3. a low ridge extending around the whole circumference of the inwardly facing surface of each flange, radially spaced from the barrel and projecting toward the other flange; the thickness of the flanges being reduced in an area that is spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the flanges and extends circumferentially around the flanges, whereby the edge-portions of the flanges that carry the ridges are pivotable between two stable positions in which the edge-portions will remain until pressure is applied to move them to the other of the two stable positions, said stable positions comprising a) a first molded position in which the distance between the ridge on one flange and the ridge on the other flaNge is at least as great as the distance between the rest of the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges and b) an operative position in which the distance between the ridges is slightly less than the width of said predetermined film, said edge-portions of the flanges having a circumference in the first and operative positions that is less than the circumference to which they are momentarily and resiliently stretched during pivoting from the first position to the operative position, whereby the edge-portions tend to remain in their operative position and the ridges hold the outer winding of film in a supply roll on the spool, but the free end of the film may be drawn between the ridges with a uniform moderate pulling force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
313 words
An integrally molded plastic spool for containing a supply roll of predetermined film comprising 1. a barrel; 2. a circular flange attached to each of the two ends of the barrel and extending transversely to the barrel, the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges being substantially parallel to one another and separated over most of their extent by at least a distance equal to the width of said predetermined film; and 3. a low ridge extending around the whole circumference of the inwardly facing surface of each flange, radially spaced from the barrel and projecting toward the other flange; the thickness of the flanges being reduced in an area that is spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the flanges and extends circumferentially around the flanges, whereby the edge-portions of the flanges that carry the ridges are pivotable between two stable positions in which the edge-portions will remain until pressure is applied to move them to the other of the two stable positions, said stable positions comprising a) a first molded position in which the distance between the ridge on one flange and the ridge on the other flaNge is at least as great as the distance between the rest of the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges and b) an operative position in which the distance between the ridges is slightly less than the width of said predetermined film, said edge-portions of the flanges having a circumference in the first and operative positions that is less than the circumference to which they are momentarily and resiliently stretched during pivoting from the first position to the operative position, whereby the edge-portions tend to remain in their operative position and the ridges hold the outer winding of film in a supply roll on the spool, but the free end of the film may be drawn between the ridges with a uniform moderate pulling force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
a circular flange attached to each of the two ends of the barrel and extending transversely to the barrel, the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges being substantially parallel to one another and separated over most of their extent by at least a distance equal to the width of said predetermined film; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
a circular flange attached to each of the two ends of the barrel and extending transversely to the barrel, the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges being substantially parallel to one another and separated over most of their extent by at least a distance equal to the width of said predetermined film; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
241 words
a low ridge extending around the whole circumference of the inwardly facing surface of each flange, radially spaced from the barrel and projecting toward the other flange; the thickness of the flanges being reduced in an area that is spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the flanges and extends circumferentially around the flanges, whereby the edge-portions of the flanges that carry the ridges are pivotable between two stable positions in which the edge-portions will remain until pressure is applied to move them to the other of the two stable positions, said stable positions comprising a) a first molded position in which the distance between the ridge on one flange and the ridge on the other flaNge is at least as great as the distance between the rest of the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges and b) an operative position in which the distance between the ridges is slightly less than the width of said predetermined film, said edge-portions of the flanges having a circumference in the first and operative positions that is less than the circumference to which they are momentarily and resiliently stretched during pivoting from the first position to the operative position, whereby the edge-portions tend to remain in their operative position and the ridges hold the outer winding of film in a supply roll on the spool, but the free end of the film may be drawn between the ridges with a uniform moderate pulling force.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
241 words
a low ridge extending around the whole circumference of the inwardly facing surface of each flange, radially spaced from the barrel and projecting toward the other flange; the thickness of the flanges being reduced in an area that is spaced inwardly from the outer edge of the flanges and extends circumferentially around the flanges, whereby the edge-portions of the flanges that carry the ridges are pivotable between two stable positions in which the edge-portions will remain until pressure is applied to move them to the other of the two stable positions, said stable positions comprising a) a first molded position in which the distance between the ridge on one flange and the ridge on the other flaNge is at least as great as the distance between the rest of the inwardly facing surfaces of the flanges and b) an operative position in which the distance between the ridges is slightly less than the width of said predetermined film, said edge-portions of the flanges having a circumference in the first and operative positions that is less than the circumference to which they are momentarily and resiliently stretched during pivoting from the first position to the operative position, whereby the edge-portions tend to remain in their operative position and the ridges hold the outer winding of film in a supply roll on the spool, but the free end of the film may be drawn between the ridges with a uniform moderate pulling force.
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) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |