GB2263099A

GB2263099A - Securing spool flanges to spool core

Info

Publication number: GB2263099A
Application number: GB9200487A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert James Moore
Original assignee: Young & Co Cases Ltd
Current assignee: Young & Co Cases Ltd
Priority date: 1992-01-10
Filing date: 1992-01-10
Publication date: 1993-07-14
Anticipated expiration: 2012-01-10
Also published as: GB2263099B; GB9200487D0

Abstract

A spool 2 Fig. 1 comprises a core 4 whose ends are snugly received in ring-shaped recesses provided in inner faces 6 of two circular wooden end plates 8. Three identical securement devices 12 are secured in pairs of holes 18 in the plates 8 to extend within the core 4 and hold the end plates 8 and core 4 together. The devices 12 include nuts 20, 24 screwed on a shaft. The nuts 20, 24 may be tightened to secure the end plates 8 in position and to tighten slack plates. Nuts 20, 24 are flush with, or disposed below, the plates outer surface. The largest end of tapered nut part 26, Fig. 4b, is larger than hole 18, the taper easing the screwing down of the nut to cut into the wood of the plates. Nuts 24 have no cross-slot 32 and are counter-bored (Fig. 5b, not shown). <IMAGE>

Description

SPOOL This invention relates to a spool around which material, for example, wire or cotton may be wound and to the manufacture thereof.

A spool comprises a central cylindrical core around which material is wound and two identical circular end plates, one of which is fixed to each respective end of the core for stopping the material slipping off the core.

Spools have been used for hundred of years and the method of manufacturing such spools has changed little over this time. During the manufacture of spools, each end plate must be securely fixed to the respective opposite ends of the core. To this end, each end plate includes three holes arranged at the vertex of an equilateral triangle having its centre coincident with the centre of the end plate and a ring-shaped recess also having its centre coincident with the centre of the end plate and provided on an inside surface of the plate around the holes.

The central cylindrical core is slotted into the ring-shaped recesses in each end plate and, with the holes in each end plate aligned, steel tubes are pushed through each hole in one end plate, through the central core and out through aligned holes in the other end plate. The three steel tubes used are of such a length that a short length thereof protrudes above an outer surface of each end plate. A washer is placed around the protruding portion of each tube and then a stamping machine is used to apply a force from a position outside each end plate and directed towards the core, thereby to cause the ends of the steel tubes to flange over the surrounding washers and to lie against the end plates. The end plates and core are thereby held together.

Problems exist with spools arranged as described above. For example, if the end plates and/or central core shrink (as they often do as they dry out), the end plates may become loose. It is very difficult to rectify this situation and, accordingly, in many cases, when the end plates become loose, the spool is discarded. This is not only wasteful from the point of view of having to replace the spool but, additionally, the material on such a spool may need to be discarded along with the spool, since it is often very difficult and/or not cost-effective to remove material from the spool and transfer it on to another spool.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate problems associated with known spools and to ease the manufacture thereof.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spool comprising a first plate and a second plate which plates are spaced apart by means of a core, securement means which extends within the core and into aligned holes in the first and second plates being provided for securing the first plate, second plate and core in position, said securement means comprising a shaft which extends within the core and first and second securement members which are provided on the shaft adjacent said first and second plates respectively, wherein the position of the first securement member on the shaft is adjustable for adjusting a force securing the first and/or second plates relative to the core and the securement means is substantially flush relative to, or disposed below, the level of an outer surface of at least one of either the first or second plates.

Preferably, the position on the shaft of said first securement member is adjustable between predetermined positions in which positions the securement member may be maintained. Preferably, the first securement member is movable in both directions along the shaft. In this respect, preferably, the first securement member and at least part of the shaft are screw-threaded so that the securement member can be positioned on the shaft as required. Alternatively, the predetermined positions of the first securement method may be defined by other means, for example, by means of engagement of teeth on the shaft with a detent or detents on the securement member.

Preferably, the first securement member is removable from the shaft and, preferably, the securement means is reusable, even after such removal.

The first securement member preferably includes an internally screw-threaded bore which is open at both ends.

Said bore is preferably axially aligned within the hole in the first plate.

The first securement member is preferably positioned at least partially, preferably substantially wholly, within the hole in the first plate. The first securement member preferably includes restrictor means for restricting the passage of the first securement member in one direction within the hole. For example, said first securement member preferably includes a tapering part, the widest transversely extending part thereof being closer to the outer surface of the first plate than the narrowest transversely extending part thereof. The widest transversely extending part of the tapering portion (which is preferably also the widest transversely extending part of the first securement member) is preferably a frictional fit in the hole.In this case, with both widest and narrowest parts of the tapering part within the hole, the ease of passage of the first securement member therewithin towards the core may be less restricted than the ease of passage of the first securement member away from the core.

Thus, it may be relatively difficult for the securement member to work itself loose. Accordingly, by providing the first securement member with restrictor means as described the first and second plates of the spool may be less likely to work themselves loose.

In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the hole disposed inwardly of the widest transversely extending part of the tapering part is slightly less than the widest diameter of the tapering part so that, when the first securement member is urged inwardly into the hole, the widest transversely extending part thereof may cut into the sides of the hole to aid securement of the securement member therein.

Said tapering part of the first securement member preferably extends from an outer transversely extending surface of the securement member. Said tapering part is preferably fixed to a neck part which is disposed inwardly of the tapering part, nearer the core of the spool. A continuous threaded bore arranged to receive the shaft of the securing means preferably extends axially through the tapering part and the neck part. The neck part is preferably circularly cylindrical and preferably adjoins and is continuous with the narrowest part of the tapering part.

A slot or slots is preferably provided in an outer surface of the tapering part by means of which slot or slots the securement member may be caused by a user to move along the shaft.

The second securement member is preferably substantially identical to the first securement member as described above. Nonetheless, the second securement member may have only some of the features of the first securement member described in any statement herein.

In a preferred embodiment, the second securement member is preferably restricted in its passage along the shaft. The second securement member is preferably substantially flush relative to the level of the outer surface of the second plate.

Preferably, the securement means is substantially flush relative to, or disposed below, the level of the outer surface of the first and second plates.

Preferably, a plurality, suitably three, of said securement means, each being independently as described in any statement herein are provided for securing the first plate, second plate and core of the spool in position.

The invention extends to a method of securing a first plate, a second plate and a core of a spool in position, wherein the first and second plates have aligned holes therein, the method including the step of securing a securement means as described in any statement herein in the aligned holes so that the securement means is substantially flush relative to, or is disposed below, the level of an outer surface of at least one of either the first or second plates.

The method may use any of the features of the spool described in any statement herein.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in crosssection, of a spool; Figure 2 is a plan view, partly in cross-section, of the spool; Figure 3 is a cross-section through a securement device in situ; Figures 4a and 4b are respectively a top plan view and a side elevation, partly in cross-section, of a securement member; and Figures Sa and 5b are respectively a top plan view and a side elevation, partly in cross-section, of another securement member.

The spool 2, shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a central cylindrical core 4 opposite ends of which are snugly received in respective ring-shaped recesses 10 provided in inner faces 6 of two circular cross-section end plates 8. Three identical securement devices 12, one being provided at each vertex of an equilateral triangle having its centre coincident with the centre of the end plates 8 and the core 4, are secured in pairs of aligned holes 18 in the plates 8 and extend within the core 4, in order to hold securely the end plates 8 and cylindrical core 4 together. The securement devices 12 are provided adjacent to the core 4, as shown in Figure 2. The end plates 8 include axially-disposed aligned circular holes 14 for mounting the spool and a securement hole 16 by means of which material carried on the spool may be initially secured to the spool.

A securement device 12 will now be described in detail. Referring to Figure 3, the securement device 12 comprises a securement member 20 which is screw-threadedly mounted on one end of a screw-threaded shaft 22 and a securement member 24 which is screw-threadedly mounted on the other end of the shaft 22.

The securement member 20 (Figures 4) comprises a circular cross-section head part 26 which tapers downwardly at an angle of about 45 towards a neck part 28 which is circularly cylindrical in cross-section. The member 20 includes a central, axially extending bore 30 which is screw-threaded along its whole length. The head part 26 includes an elongate diametrically disposed slot 32.

The securement member 24 (Figures 5) is similar to the securement member 20 in that it comprises a circular cross-section head part 26 which tapers downwardly at an angle of about 450 towards a neck part 28 which is circularly cylindrical in cross-section. The member 24 includes a central, axially extending bore 40 which is screw-threaded along its whole length except for a region 42 adjacent an open end 44 of the neck part 28.

Furthermore, in contrast to the securement member 20, the member 24 does not include an elongate diametrically disposed slot 32.

A spool 2 may be assembled using three securement devices 12, as follows. Three holes 18 are drilled in the same pattern in each end plate 8. The holes 18 have a diameter which is slightly smaller than the greatest diameter of the head parts 26 of the securement members 20, 24. Then, the cylindrical core 4 is arranged in the ring-shaped recesses 10 in the inner faces 6 of the plates 8 and each hole 18 in the plate 8a is aligned with a respective hole 18 in the plate 8b (Figure 3). The securement member 24 is then threaded onto the screwthreaded shaft 22, until an end 50 of the shaft is adjacent to the non-screw-threaded region 42. The shaft 22/securement member 24 assembly is then pushed through a hole 18 in the end plate 8b until the tapering part of the head part 26 abuts the outer facing surface of the plate 8b.When so disposed, the ot-her end, end 52, of the shaft 22 extends into hole 18 in the plate 8a. The screwthreaded bore in the neck part 28 of a securement member 20 may then be engaged with the end 52 of shaft 22 and the securement member 20 screwed thereon. A screw driver may be engaged within cross-slot 32 to urge the securement member 20 along the shaft 22.

Each of the three securement devices 12 may be arranged as described above and subsequently a screw driver may be used to tighten the devices thereby to secure the plates 8a, 8b to the core.

It should be noted that in the assembled spool 2, the securement members 20, 24 are substantially flush with the outer-facing surface of the respective plates 8a, 8b, as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, the securement devices 12 are not able to rotate within the holes 18. This is due to a frictional force between the securement members 20, 24 and the walls of the respective holes 18. This frictional force may be increased by causing the head parts 26 of the members 20 and/or the members 24 to move further into the holes 18, for example, below the level of the outer facing surface of the plate 8. This may be achieved simply by using a screw driver in the slots 32 to cause rotation of the securement members along the shaft.In this case, since the diameter of the head parts 26 is slightly greater than that of the holes 18, the head parts may cut into the sides of the holes 18 and thereby move further thereinto. It will be appreciated that it may be relatively easy to cause the head parts to move further into the holes, since the tapering of the head parts favours such movement. However, it may be relatively difficult for the head parts to move out of the holes (leading to loosening of the plates), since the tapering of the head parts disfavours such movement.

Additionally, it should be appreciated that a screw driver may be used to tighten the securement devices, if, during use, the plates 8 become loosened.

The core 4 of the spool 2 is suitably made from card.

The plates 8 are preferably made from wood, for example, from high density chipboard.

The spool 2 may be of any size. For example, the diameter of the plates 8 may be in the range 0.20 m to 1.0 m.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. A spool comprising a first plate and a second plate which plates are spaced apart by means of a core, securement means which extends within the core and into aligned holes in the first and second plates being provided for securing the first plate, second plate and the core in position, said securement means comprising a shaft which extends within the core and first and second securement members which are provided on the shaft adjacent said first and second plates respectively, wherein the position of the first securement member on the shaft is adjustable for adjusting a force securing the first and/or second plates relative to the core and the securement means is substantially flush relative to, or disposed below, the level of an outer surface of at least one of either the first or second plates.

2. A spool according to Claim 1, wherein the position on the shaft of said first securement member is adjustable between predetermined positions.

3. A spool according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the first securement member is movable in both directions along the shaft.

4. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first securement member and at least part of the shaft are screw-threaded so that the position of the first securement member on the shaft may be adjusted.

5. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first securement member is removable from the shaft.

6. A spool according to Claim 5, wherein the securement means is reusable after the first securement member has been removed from the shaft.

7. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first securement member includes an internally screw-threaded bore.

8. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first securement member is positioned at least partially within a hole in the first plate.

9. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first securement member includes restrictor means for restricting the passage of the first securement member within the hole in the first plate.

10. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first securement member includes a tapering part, the widest transversely extending part thereof being closer to the outer surface of first plate than the narrowest transversely extending part thereof.

11. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first securement member is preferably a friction-fit in the hole in the first plate.

12. A spool according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 when dependent upon Claim 10, wherein the diameter of the hole in the first plate disposed inwardly of the widest transversely extending part of the tapering part is slightly less than that of the widest diameter of the tapering part so that when the first securement member is urged inwardly into the hole, the widest transversely extending part may cut into the sides of the hole to aid securement of the securement member therein.

13. A spool according to any of Claims 10 to 12, wherein said tapering part extends from an outer transversely extending surface of the securement member.

14. A spool according to any of Claims 10 to 13, wherein said tapering part is fixed to a neck part which is disposed inwardly of the tapering part, nearer the core of the spool.

15. A spool according to any of Claims 10 to 14, wherein a slot or slots is/are provided in an upper surface of the tapering part of the first securement member by means of which slot or slots the first securement member may be caused to move along the shaft.

16. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second securement member is substantially identical to the first securement member.

17. A spool according to Claim 16, wherein the second securement member is disposed substantially flush relative to the outer surface of the second plate.

18. A spool according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of said securement means are provided for securing the first plate, second plate and core of the spool in position.

19. A method of securing a first plate, a second plate and a core of a spool in position, the first and second plates having aligned holes, the method including the step of securing a securement means as described in any of Claims 1 to 18 in the aligned holes, so that the securement means is substantially flush relative to, or is disposed below, the level of a surface of at least one of either the first or second plates.

20. A spool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

21. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.