US6715710B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self aligning stackable cable reel
Assignee: Russell Forest Products Inc
•
Filing: 2002-09-13
•
Granted: 2004-04-06
•
Expires: 2022-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A self-aligning stackable cable reel has a pair of spaced apart disc-shaped flanges joined by a tubular central core. Each flange has a periphery and an outside face. A generally annular rim extends around the periphery of each flange and projects outwardly from the outside face to an edge. The edge of each rim is contoured to define a repeating serpentine pattern around the rim. When two cable reels are stacked end-on-end, the serpentine patterns of their respective rims intermesh to align the cable reels automatically with each other and to lock them against relative sliding motion during transport.
Inventors
- 👤 Kelly C. Russell
- 👤 Randall S. Wilson
- 👤 Robert D. White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:50
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H75/00; B65H75/02; B65H75/18; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/50; B65H2701/51; B65H2701/513; B65H2701/5136; B65H2701/53; B65H2701/534
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A self-aligning and self-securing stackable cable reel comprising: a core having ends; a first flange on one end of said core, said first flange having an inside face, an outside face, and a peripheral portion; a second flange on the other end of said core, said second flange having an inside face, an outside face, and a peripheral portion; and a structure extending around said peripheral portions of said first and second flanges, each said structure being shaped to intermesh with the same structure on a flange of another one of said cable reels such that cable reels can be stacked end-on-end with said structures mutually intermeshing to align the reels with each other and secure the reels against relative sliding motion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
A self-aligning and self-securing stackable cable reel comprising: a core having ends; a first flange on one end of said core, said first flange having an inside face, an outside face, and a peripheral portion; a second flange on the other end of said core, said second flange having an inside face, an outside face, and a peripheral portion; and a structure extending around said peripheral portions of said first and second flanges, each said structure being shaped to intermesh with the same structure on a flange of another one of said cable reels such that cable reels can be stacked end-on-end with said structures mutually intermeshing to align the reels with each other and secure the reels against relative sliding motion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A self-aligning and self-securing stackable cable reel as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said structure extending around said peripheral portions of said first and second flanges comprises an upstanding rim extending around the periphery of said flanges, said upstanding rim having an edge configured to intermesh with an edge of a like cable reel when the reels are stacked end-on-end.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A self-aligning and self-securing stackable cable reel as claimed in claim 2 and wherein said edges of said rims are formed with a substantially serpentine shape, the hills of one edge nestling in the troughs of another edge to intermesh said edges together.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A self-aligning and self-securing stackable cable reel as claimed in claim 2 and wherein said edges of said rims are formed with a substantially saw tooth shape, the tips of one edge nestling in the troughs of another edge to intermesh said edges together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A self-aligning and self-securing stackable cable reel as claimed in claim 2 and wherein said edges of said rims are formed with a substantially rectangular tooth shape, the teeth of one edge nestling in the spaces between teeth of another edge to intermesh the edges together.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A self-aligning and self-securing stackable cable reel as claimed in claim 1 and wherein said first and second flanges are formed of injection molded plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
A cable reel designed to be stacked end-on-end with like cable reels, said cable reel comprising a pair of spaced apart generally disc-shaped flanges having peripheral edges, inside faces, and outside faces, a central core extending between and joining said flanges for receiving cable to be wrapped on said cable reel, and a structure formed around said peripheral edges of said flanges on said outside faces thereof, said structure being configured to intermesh with like structures on like cable reels when said reels are stacked end-on-end to align said reels with each other and inhibit relative sliding motion of one reel relative to an adjacent reel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
106 words
A cable reel designed to be stacked end-on-end with like cable reels, said cable reel comprising a pair of spaced apart generally disc-shaped flanges having peripheral edges, inside faces, and outside faces, a central core extending between and joining said flanges for receiving cable to be wrapped on said cable reel, and a structure formed around said peripheral edges of said flanges on said outside faces thereof, said structure being configured to intermesh with like structures on like cable reels when said reels are stacked end-on-end to align said reels with each other and inhibit relative sliding motion of one reel relative to an adjacent reel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cable reel as claimed in claim 7 and wherein said structure includes a rim.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A cable reel as claimed in claim 8 and wherein said rim projects from said outside faces of said flanges to an edge, said edge configured to intermesh with like edges of like cable reels when the reels are stacked end-on-end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cable reel as claimed in claim 9 and wherein said edges of said rims are formed with a repeating serpentine pattern.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cable reel as claimed in claim 9 and wherein said edges of said rims are formed with a repeating saw tooth pattern.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A cable reel as claimed in claim 9 and wherein said edges of said rims are formed with a repeating square tooth pattern.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of aligning and securing cable reels that are stacked end-on-end for storage and transport, said method comprising forming a structure around the periphery of the cable reel flanges with the structures of the flanges being shaped to intermesh with each other when one cable reel is stacked atop a like cable reel, the structure being a peripheral rim having an irregular edge shaped to intermesh with the irregular edge of the rim of a like cable reel, and wherein the irregular edge is serpentine shaped.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
87 words
A method of aligning and securing cable reels that are stacked end-on-end for storage and transport, said method comprising forming a structure around the periphery of the cable reel flanges with the structures of the flanges being shaped to intermesh with each other when one cable reel is stacked atop a like cable reel, the structure being a peripheral rim having an irregular edge shaped to intermesh with the irregular edge of the rim of a like cable reel, and wherein the irregular edge is serpentine shaped.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of aligning and securing cable reels that are stacked end-on-end for storage and transport, said method comprising forming a structure around the periphery of the cable reel flanges with the structures of the flanges being shaped to intermesh with each other when one cable reel is stacked atop a like cable reel, the structure being a peripheral rim having an irregular edge shaped to intermesh with the irregular edge of the rim of a like cable reel, and wherein the irregular edge is saw tooth shaped.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of aligning and securing cable reels that are stacked end-on-end for storage and transport, said method comprising forming a structure around the periphery of the cable reel flanges with the structures of the flanges being shaped to intermesh with each other when one cable reel is stacked atop a like cable reel, the structure being a peripheral rim having an irregular edge shaped to intermesh with the irregular edge of the rim of a like cable reel, and wherein the irregular edge is saw tooth shaped.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of aligning and securing cable reels that are stacked end-on-end for storage and transport, said method comprising forming a structure around the periphery of the cable reel flanges with the structures of the flanges being shaped to intermesh with each other when one cable reel is stacked atop a like cable reel, the structure being a peripheral rim having an irregular edge shaped to intermesh with the irregular edge of the rim of a like cable reel, and wherein the irregular edge is square tooth shaped.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of aligning and securing cable reels that are stacked end-on-end for storage and transport, said method comprising forming a structure around the periphery of the cable reel flanges with the structures of the flanges being shaped to intermesh with each other when one cable reel is stacked atop a like cable reel, the structure being a peripheral rim having an irregular edge shaped to intermesh with the irregular edge of the rim of a like cable reel, and wherein the irregular edge is square tooth shaped.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2965057A
Cited
US3508719A
Cited
US4602752A
Cited
US5354008A
Cited
US5421537A
Cited
US5605305A
Cited
US5622333A
Cited
US5720397A
Cited
US5897075A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-04-06 | 2007-10-06 | 2008-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-04-06 | 2011-10-06 | 2012-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-04-06 | 2015-10-06 | 2016-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |