GB1311704A - Collapsible reel - Google Patents

Abstract

1311704 Collapsible reels S L EIFRID 18 Nov 1970 [24 Nov 1969] 54808/70 Heading B8M A reel 16 comprises in combination two inflexible flat flanges 18 spaced apart in parallel planes normal to a common axis extending through centres of the flanges, a plurality of elongated fingers 19 of equal length connected at opposite ends to said flanges at angularly spaced points around the axis, the fingers 19 being formed of stretchable material and foldable transversely of their lengths to permit movement of the flanges toward each other, and a hollow axially inflexible tubular spacer 20 encircling the fingers 19 on their outer sides with its ends engaging opposed surfaces on said flanges to hold the flanges spaced apart, the axial length of the spacer 20 being correlated with and slightly greater than the relaxed length of the fingers 19 between the flanges to space the flanges a distance great enough to place said fingers under tension whereby the fingers exert a force urging the flanges against the spacer ends. The spacer 20 is preferably formed as two beric-cylindrical halves which engage radially inside a shoulder 21 provided in the inner surface of each flange. The fingers 19 are preferably formed as radial projections on a hub member 23, the hub member 23 being positioned adjacent the outer surface of the flange with the fingers 19 projecting through slots 24 in the flange. Alternative fingers are provided at their ends with tabs 28 and slots 29 respectively and the fingers are passed through the slots 24 so that opposed fingers can be interlocked by means of the tabs and slots. The flanges 18 are preferably made of laminated corrugated cardboard and the fingers 19 of resilient plastics material or metal permitting flexing of the fingers. In a further embodiment, the shoulder 21 is omitted and a flat spacer support is positioned against the inner sides of each flange, each spacer support having radially extending slots to receive the fingers to support the inner side of the spacer at the spacer ends. In an alternative embodiment, the fingers are in the form of separate elements formed with a tab at each end, which tabs engage in slots provided on the flange face. In a further embodiment, the fingers are formed integrally with the flange and alternate round the flange with slots for the reception of the babs on the fingers of the opposed flange. To facilitate bending of the fingers without breaking at the line of bending, the fingers are preferably hinged along such lines by a coining operation.