AU643783B2

AU643783B2 - A spool

Info

Publication number: AU643783B2
Application number: AU76163/91A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael Wesley Tyrrell
Original assignee: NCI PLASTICS VIC Pty Ltd
Current assignee: NCI PLASTICS (VIC) Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1990-09-14
Filing date: 1991-04-29
Publication date: 1993-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2011-04-29
Also published as: AU7616391A

Description

643783 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: S Priority: Related Art: Name of Applicant: NCI PLASTICS (VIC.) PTY. LTD.

Address of Applicant: 219 Separation Street, Northcote 3070, Victoria, AUSTRALIA 20 Actual Inventor(s): Michael Wesley TYRRELL Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

25 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: A SPOOL The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1- 910429,dbwspe029,spoolcap,1 -2- A SPOOL The present invention relates to a spool. More specifically, the present invention relates to a spool on which cables, hoses, ropes and the like can be wound.

Spools normally comprise a central core of cylindrical shape and a pair of flanges disposed at opposing ends of the core. Once assembled, cables, hoses, ropes or filaments to be wound onto the spool are wound onto the core and held in place by opposing walls provided by the flanges. The length of the core determines the width of the spool and depending on the material to be wound onto 0O the spool different widths may be desirable. To cater for a variety of widths, the a flanges and the cores are normally fabricated as separate articles and are assembled 9* t together thereafter to form a spool. This enables flanges of the same configuration .e 15 and shape to be attached to cores of different lengths to provide spools of different widths.

One method of attaching the flanges to the core involves the use of a plastic latching cap which is inserted into a disc shaped flange and then latched on io the core. When attached to the core, the cap holds the respective flange in place relative to the core. The cap is, however, a relatively elaborate attachment device which increases the cost of manufacture of a spool. Two of the caps are required in addition to the normal core and pair of flanges.

S.

A known spool which comprises only three parts, two flanges and a core, employs plastic flanges having a central boss or hub for insertion into the ends of a cardboard cylinder, which comprises the core. The boss includes a number of protruding ridges disposed around its circumference which are used to engage the inner surface of the core to attach the core to the respective flange. The attachment of the flanges to the core, however, is not very secure. A particular disadvantage is that on the application of a suitable force, the core rotates about its 910429,dbwopce.29,spoolzap, -3longitudinal axis with respect to the flanges. The core can also become dislodged from a flange after assembly of the spool. The spool also includes a number of radial supporting ribs on the inner surface of the flanges, which are cumbersome and unattractive.

An object of the present invention is to obviate, at least in part, the disadvantages associated with the spools discussed above.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a spool comprising a core member and two flanges, said flanges each including a central boss portion adapted for insertion into respective opposing ends of said core member; said core member and boss portions including reciprocal engaging portions for latching said flanges to said ends of said core member, which abut said flanges, respectively, when attached thereto, said engaging portions including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of corresponding holes, and said teeth having a wedge shape to facilitate insertion of said boss portions into said core member and being unable to protrude from said holes when received therein, at least part of the engaging portions being resiliently deformable to facilitate attachment of said flanges to said 20 core member; aid wherein said engaging portions prevent said flanges being rotated relative to said core member and said flanges once attached to said core member cannot be removed therefrom without damaging said spool.

The present invention also provides a method of assembling a spool as i defined above, comprising latching said flanges to said core member with said :engaging portions.

The present invention further provides a flange for a spool, comprising: 30 a rigid central annular boss portion adapted for insertion into an end of a core member of said spool, said boss portion including engaging portions for engagement with reciprocal engaging portions of said core member so as to latch said flange to said end, when said end abuts said flange; 93D921,porAbw,76163.91,3 -4said engaging portions including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of corresponding holes, said teeth having a wedge shape to facilitate insertion of said boss portions into said core member and being unable to protrude from said holes when received therein, at least part of the engaging portions being resiliently defornable to facilitate attachment of said flange to said core member; wherein said engaging portions prevent said flange being rotated relative to said core member and, once attached to said core member, said engaging portions and the rigidity of said boss portion prevent said flange from being removed from said ce member without damaging said spool.

S *o y I? ci 930921,poprzbw,76163.91,4 A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a spool; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a flange of the spool of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the flange; Figue 4 is a cross-sectional view A-A of the flange, as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of a core of the spool of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view B-B of the core, as shown in Figure and Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view along the longitudinal axis of the spool.

A spool 2, as shown in the Figures, includes a central core 4 and a pair of flanges 6 disposed at opposite ends 8 and 10 of the core 4. The core 4, as as 15 illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, is a hollow cylinder formed of rigid cardboard, such as Varkes board, and may be fabricated in a number of lengths, as desired.

•The flanges 6, illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, are made of resilient plastic and each include a disk shaped portion 12 having a circular boss or hub 14 disposed thereon. The circular boss 14 is centered about a central axis 16 of the flange 6 which coincides with the longitudinal axis 18 of the spool 2 when assembled. The boss 14 is ring shaped and includes inner and outer circumferential walls 17 and 19, respectively, which project from an inner surface 20 of the disk shaped portion 12. The boss 14 includes a plurality of support ribs 22 which are of the same height as the inner wall 17 and are disposed at equiangular distances along the wall 17. The ribs 22 add rigidity to the boss 14. The boss 14 also includes four teeth 24 which are disposed on the outer wall 19. The teeth 24 each have another tooth disposed diagonally opposite on the boss 14, as shown in Figure 3. A first tooth 24 is spaced at an angular distance of 60° in one direction from a second tooth 24 and 120° in the opposite direction from a third tooth 24. The fourth tooth 24 is between the second and third teeth and is spaced 60° from the third tooth 24 and 910429,dbwspc.029,spoocap,5 I* W -6- 1200 from the second tooth 24. The teeth 24 have a sawtooth or wedge shape, as shown in Figures 2 and 4.

The teeth 24 are adapted to be received by and engage reciprocal or complementary holes 26 in the core 4. The holes 26, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, are disposed at the same angular distances about the circumference of the core 4, as the teeth 24 are positioned on the boss 14. Four holes 26 are disposed adjacent each end 8 and 10 of the core 4 and are spaced from one another at angular distances of 69°, 120°, 60°, and 120° about the outer circumferential surface of the core 4, as shown in Figure 6.

9 The outer diameter of the boss 14 is chosen so as to be only slightly less °than the inner diameter of the core 4 so the inner wall 19 can be inserted into the core 4, as shown in Figure 7. The flanges 6 are resilient so on inserting a boss 14 15 into an end 8 of the core 4, the boss 14 is slightly deformed as its projecting teeth 24 engage the inner wall of the core 4. The boss 14 returns to its normal shape when it is inserted sufficiently into the end 8 of the core 4 so the teeth 24 are received by respective ones of the holes 26, as shown in Figure 7. The incline of the sawtooth or wedge shaped teeth 24 is directed upwardly towards the inner surface 20 of the disk shaped portion 12 so as to facilitate insertion of the boss into the core 4. The teeth 24 include a vertical latching edge 30, as shown in Figures 4 and 7, provided at the apex of the incline. The depth of the holes 26 and the projecting height of the teeth 24 are such that the teeth 24 do not project or S "o protrude from the holes 26. Therefore material wound onto the spool 2 can not deform the boss 14 or dislodge the teeth 24 from the holes 26.

With the boss 14 inserted so the teeth 24 are received within the holes 26, the flange 6 is latched to the core 4. The latching edges 30 abut longitudinal edges 33 of the holes 26, the edges 33 being adjacent the ends 8 and 10 of the core 4, and prevent the boss 14 from being longitudinally withdrawn from the core 4. The teeth 24 also include side edges 32, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, which engage 910429,dbwspc.29,spool.ap,6 -7lateral walls 34 of the holes 26 and prevent rotation of the core 4 relative to the flange 6 about the longitudinal axis 18. With the teeth 24 disposed in the holes 26, the end 8 of the core 4 abuts the inner surface 20 of the flange 6, as shown in Figure 7, so the boss 14 can not be further inserted into the core 4 to dislodge the teeth from the holes 26. Hence, once a boss 14 has been latched to the core 4, as described above, the flange 6 can not be removed from the core without damaging the spool 2. The spool 2 provides a secure structure, which is easy to assemble, and has only three parts.

The disk shaped portion 12 includes a circular hole 40 centered on the central axis 16 of the flange 6. The hole 40 enables a rod or an arm of a user to be inserted through the spool 2 along the longitudinal axis 18 to provide a support about which the spool 2 can be rotated. The diameter of the hole 40 can be varied, as desired, with a maximum diameter being the diameter of the inner wall 17 of 15 the boss 14.

The flange 6 further includes a lip 42 which extends around the circumference or rim of the disk shaped portion 12 of the flange 6. The lip 42 projects away from the boss 14, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4 and provides strength and rigidity to the disc shape portions 12 of the flanges 6. This is particularly advantageous as it enables the surfaces 20 and 44 of the flanges to be smooth whilst the disc shape portions 12 are relativiy thin. Hence, the flanges 6 do not need to include any cumbersome projections or ribs on either surface 20 or S44 which may inhibit removal of material wound on the spool 2 and detract from the appearance of the spool 2.

910429,bwsp.29,spooLcap,7

Claims

1. .A spool comprising a core member and two flanges, said flanges each including a central boss portion adapted for insertion into respective opposing ends of said core member; said core member and boss portions including reciprocal engaging portions for latching said flanges to said ends of said core member, which abut said flanges, respectively, when attached thereto, said engaging portions including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of corre ,Tponding holes, and said teeth having a wedge shape to facilitate insertion of said boss portions into said core member and being unable to protrude from said holes when received therein, at least part of the engaging portions being resiliently deformable to facilitate attachment of said flanges to said core member; wherein said engaging portions prevent said flanges being rotated relative to said core member and said flanges once attached to said core member cannot be removed therefrom without damaging said spool.

2. A spool as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flanges each include a lip disposed about the rim of the flanges to strengthen said flanges. !i 3. A spool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said flanges each include a central hole for insertion of a rod or a user's arm about which the .t spool can be rotated.

4. A spool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said core member has a hollow cylinder-like shape. 0 S: A spool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said core member and said flanges are respectively formed of either rigid cardboard or resilient plastic.

6. A method of assembling a spool as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising latching said flanges to said core member with said engaging S.P 930323,p\opcr\dbw,76163.91,8 4 -9- portions.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, including inserting boss portions of said flanges into said core member to effect said latching.

8. A flange for a spool, comprising: a rigid central annular boss portion adapted for insertion into an end of a core member of said spool, said boss portion including engaging portions for engagement with reciprocal engaging portions of said core member so as to latch said flange to said end, when said end abuts said flange; said engaging portions including a plurality of teeth and a plurality of corresponding holes, said teeth having a wedge shape to facilitate insertion of said boss portions into said core member and being unable to protrude from said holes when received therein, at least part of the engaging portions being resiliently deformable to facilitate attachment of said flange to said core member; wherein said engaging portions prevent said flange being rotated relative to said core member and, once attached to said core member, said engaging portions and the rigidity of said boss portion prevent said flange from being removed from said core member without damaging said spool.

9. A flange as claimed in claim 8, wherein said flanges each include a lip disposed about the rim of the flanges to strengthen said flanges. A flange as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein said flanges each include a central hole for insertion of a rod or a user's ann about which the spool can be rotated.

11. A flange as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein said flange is formed of resilient plastic or rigid cardboard.

12. A spool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 930921,:\opeadbw,76163.91,9 10

13. A flange substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A method of assembling a spool substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 21st day of September, 1993 NCI PLASTICS (VIC.) PTY. LTD. By its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE a. a. a a a a a a a a. a a *.aa *a.aa. a 93021,popztdbw,76163.91,10