Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A cable reel comprising: a first cylindrical member about which cable can be wound having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior; first and second flanges disposed at opposite ends of said cylindrical member substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member, one of said flanges having an outside surface having at least one opening arranged adjacent the periphery of said one flange through which the cable can be traversed and a second opening in the surface disposed adjacent the center of said one flange and opening into the hollow interior of the cylindrical member, said hollow interior adapted to receive ends of the cable wound on said cylindrical member, at least one end being received through the second opening, and further comprising means disposed on the outside surface for protecting the cable extending between the first opening and the second opening.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
A cable reel comprising: a first cylindrical member about which cable can be wound having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior; first and second flanges disposed at opposite ends of said cylindrical member substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member, one of said flanges having an outside surface having at least one opening arranged adjacent the periphery of said one flange through which the cable can be traversed and a second opening in the surface disposed adjacent the center of said one flange and opening into the hollow interior of the cylindrical member, said hollow interior adapted to receive ends of the cable wound on said cylindrical member, at least one end being received through the second opening, and further comprising means disposed on the outside surface for protecting the cable extending between the first opening and the second opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cable reel recited in claim 1, wherein said cylindrical member further has an opening disposed therein opening into the hollow interior for allowing one end of the cable to be received through the opening of the cylindrical member into the hollow interior.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable reel recited in claim 2, wherein said opening in said cylindrical member is disposed adjacent and merges into said second opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The cable reel recited in claim 2, wherein said second opening is elongate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cable reel recited in claim 4, wherein said second opening is triangle shaped with rounded corners.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The cable reel recited in claim 1, wherein said means for protecting comprises a wall disposed adjacent and parallel to the outside surface of said one flange and at a spacing from the surface of said one flange equal to at least approximately the thickness of said cable, for receiving the cable between the surface and the wall, thereby protecting said cable extending between said first and second openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
The cable reel recited in claim 6, wherein said means for protectig comprises a plate having a central recessed portion attached to the outside surface of said one flange and an edge portion comprising said wall disposed at a height at least approximately equal to the thickness of the cable, said edge being paralled to said outside surface of said one flange.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
The cable reel recited in claim 7, further comprising a second plate having a central recessed portion attached to the outside surface of said one flange and an edge portion forming a further wall disposed at a height at least approximately equal to the thickness of the cable, said edge of said second plate being parallel to said outside surface of said one flange, said two plates being disposed adjacent each other with a slot between said edges of said plates having a thickness equal to at least the thickness of said cable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cable reel recited in claim 8, wherein said slot comprises a zig-zag slot adapted to receive said cable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cable reel recited in claim 1, further comprising additional means for protecting said cable and being attached to said one flange, said additional means being provided for protecting said cable in the area between said means for protecting and said second opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cable reel recited in claim 10, wherein said additional means comprises strap means extending across said area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cable reel recited in claim 6, wherein said means for protecting prevents said cable from bending beyond a minimum bending radius of the cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cable reel recited in claim 6, wherein said recessed portion of said plate has a curved upstanding wall for receiving said cable thereagainst, said curved wall having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the minimum bending radius of the cable.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable reel recited in claim 1, wherein said first opening comprises a cut-out disposed at a peripheral edge of said one flange.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
The cable reel recited in claim 14, wherein said one flange has two of said first openings arranged adjacent the periphery of said one flange, thereby allowing said cable to be wound in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction on said first cylindrical member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
225 words
A cable reel comprising: a first cylindrical member about which cable can be wound having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior; first and second flanges disposed at opposite ends of said cylindrical member substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member, one of said flanges having an outside surface having at least one opening arranged adjacent the periphery of said one flange through which the cable can be traversed and a second opening in the surface disposed adjacent the center of said one flange and opening into the hollow interior of the cylindrical member, said hollow interior adapted to receive ends of the cable wound on said cylindrical member, at least one end being received through the second opening, and further comprising means attached to said one flange having a wall disposed adjacent and parallel to the outside surface of said one flange and at a spacing from the surface of said one flange equal to at least approximately the thickness of said cable, for receiving the cable between the surface and the wall, thereby protecting said cable extending between said first and second openings, said cylindrical member further having an opening disposed therein opening into the hollow interior for allowing one end of the cable to be received through the opening of the cylindrical member into the hollow interior.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
225 words
A cable reel comprising: a first cylindrical member about which cable can be wound having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior; first and second flanges disposed at opposite ends of said cylindrical member substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical member, one of said flanges having an outside surface having at least one opening arranged adjacent the periphery of said one flange through which the cable can be traversed and a second opening in the surface disposed adjacent the center of said one flange and opening into the hollow interior of the cylindrical member, said hollow interior adapted to receive ends of the cable wound on said cylindrical member, at least one end being received through the second opening, and further comprising means attached to said one flange having a wall disposed adjacent and parallel to the outside surface of said one flange and at a spacing from the surface of said one flange equal to at least approximately the thickness of said cable, for receiving the cable between the surface and the wall, thereby protecting said cable extending between said first and second openings, said cylindrical member further having an opening disposed therein opening into the hollow interior for allowing one end of the cable to be received through the opening of the cylindrical member into the hollow interior.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, wherein said second opening comprises an elongate opening for allowing a coil of free cable to be inserted therethrough.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cable reel recited in claim 17, wherein said second opening is an approximately triangle shaped opening having rounded corners.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, wherein said opening in said cylindrical member is disposed adjacent and merges into said second opening.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cable reel recited in claim 19, wherein said opening in said cylindrical member is elongate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, wherein said means for protecting comprises a plate having a central recessed portion attached to the outside surface of said one flange and an edge portion comprising said wall disposed at a height at least approximately equal to the thickness of the cable, said edge being parallel to said outside surface of said one flange.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
93 words
The cable reel recited in claim 21, further comprising a second plate having a central recessed portion attached to the outside surface of said one flange and an edge portion forming a further wall disposed at a height at least approximately equal to the thickness of the cable, said edge of said second plate being parallel to said outside surface of said one flange, said two plates being disposed adjacent each other with a slot between said edges of said plates having a thickness equal to at least the thickness of said cable.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The cable reel recited in claim 22, wherein said slot comprises a zig-zag slot adapted to receive said cable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cable reel recited in claim 23, wherein said plates are identical but rotated 180° with respect to each other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, wherein said drum member and flanges comprise sheet metal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The cable reel recited in claim 25, wherein said flanges comprise spring type metal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, wherein said drum member and flanges comprise a plastic material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, further comprising a shelf disposed in said hollow interior for supporting the ends of the cable in said hollow interior.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cable reel recited in claim 28, wherein said shelf comprises two shelf portions forming an angle therebetween of less than 90°.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, further comprising an interior cylindrical member disposed inside and concentric with said first cylindrical member.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, further comprising additional means for protecting said cable and being attached to said one flange, said additional means being provided for protecting said cable in the area between said means for protecting and said second opening.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The cable reel recited in claim 31, wherein said additional means comprises strap means extending across said area.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
61 words
The cable reel recited in claim 32, wherein said strap means is attached at one end thereof to the outside surface of said one flange at one side of said area and extends through a bracket disposed on said outside surface of said one flange at an opposite side of said area and thereafter loops back and is fastened on itself.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The cable reel recited in claim 32, wherein said strap means comprises a belt and buckle.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, further comprising stacking means disposed on the outside surface of said one flange.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
17 words
The cable reel recited in claim 35, wherein said stacking means are spaced equiangularly about said flange.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, wherein said means for protecting prevents said cable from bending beyond a minimum bending radius of the cable.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cable reel recited in claim 21, wherein said recessed portion of said plate has a curved upstanding wall for receiving said cable thereagainst, said curved wall having a radius of curvature substantially equal to the minimum bending radius of the cable.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cable reel recited in claim 37, wherein said cable reel is particularly adapted for the storage of fiber optic cable.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, wherein said first opening comprises a cut-out disposed at a peripheral edge of said one flange.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cable reel recited in claim 16, wherein said hollow interior is adapted to receive connectors coupled to the ends of the cable.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
44 words
The cable reel recited in claim 40, wherein said one flange has two of said first openings arranged adjacent the periphery of said one flange, thereby allowing said cable to be wound in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction on said first cylindrical member.