US3322373A - Lightweight reinforced reel - Google Patents

Description

y 1967 J, A. WILSON, JR.. ETAL 3,322,373

LIGHTWEIGHT REINFORCED REEL Original Filed March 29, 1965 INVENTORS JOHN A. WILSON, JR. EDWARD J. BOY R E CHARLES M. VANDER PYL ATTORNEYS I United States Patent Office 3,322,373 Patented May 30, 1-967 3,322,373 LHGHTWETGHT RERNFURQED REEL John A. Wilson, Jr., Warwick, RJL, and Edward J. Boyer and Charlies M. Vander Pyl, Attlebere, Mass, assignors to Wansltucit (Iornpany, a corporation of Rhode Elsiand Continuation of application Ser. No. 443,556, him. 29, 1965. This application Get. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 586,168 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-1183) This invention relates to a reel more particularly adapted for receiving wire to provide a shipping package for transporting the wire from one place to another and is a continuation of our copending application, Ser. No. 443,556, filed Mar. 29, 1965, now abandoned.

The invention comprises a reel having a barrel portion with heads at its opposite ends and with both the barrel and the heads formed of spaced, relatively stiif sheets of material with a core therebetween contacting the spaced sheets of material so as to stiffen and support the same. The core is of a relatively light or less dense material than the spaced sheets forming the heads and barrel and yet one which lends support and strength to the sheets forming the heads and barrel.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a strong reel and yet one which is light in weight and thus less expensive and easier to handle in shipping.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lightweight core between two sheets of material which will give good support preventing the collapse of the sheets of material toward each other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reel which will permit the reel and its contents to be immersed in water for treating or cleaning the contents of the reel.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the reel partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a fragmental view partly broken away and in section with the broken away portion being along substantially the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a section of a fragmental portion of the barrel on substantially line 33 of FIG. 1.

In proceeding with this invention, we provide a barrel and separate heads for the opposite ends of the barrel and then assemble the heads with the barrel. The barrel is provided by a pair of tubes one within the other and a core between the tubes to reinforce them and stitfen the barrel and provide a laminated structure. The heads are provided by means of a pair of plates which are spaced with a core of stiffening material positioned between the plates to contact the plates so as to stiffen and strengthen the same and provide a laminated structure. The outer material of the two tubes and the outer plates of the heads are of a more dense material than the core which supports them. Thus, we are able to provide a lightweight reel and yet have the desired strength and outer surface which is desired.

With reference to the drawings and more particularly FIG. 1, designates generally the barrel having heads 11 at its ends which heads are of the same construction. Each of these heads comprises an outer plate 15 turned inwardly at its center providing a lip 16 and a center opening 21 and turned inwardly at its peripheral edge as at 17. An inner plate 18 is also formed which is turned outwardly as at 19 at its center and outwardly as at 20 at its peripheral edge so as to telescope into the lips 16 and 17 of the outer plate. These lips form stops which space the plates at certain distance apart.

The plates 15 and 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are formed of a resin reinforced with glass fibers to provide a plastic which is relatively stiff and presents a hard outer surface. The resin may contain a coloring material to make the plates opaque. Between the plates 15 and 18 there is provided a stiffening core which contacts plates 15 and 18, and in the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this core 23 is of foamed plastic and very light weight. This material is inserted between the plates prior to their being telescoped together, and after being assembled With the plates, the plates are sealed at the juncture of their telescoping lips by a suitable treatment of the resin which forms them.

The inner one of these plates is provided with a molded projection 25 consisting of an annulus, and this projection is hollow and provided with some suitable reinforcing filling material 26 such as foamed plastic which will engage the surfaces of the pocket formed by this inward projection 25.

The barrel 10 which is assembled on the projection 25 of each of the heads comprises an inner tube 30 and a larger outer tube 31 both of cylindrical construction, while between these tubes there is provided a core 32 of foamed plastic which may be the same as is provided at 23 between the plates of a head of the reel, thus providing radial support between the tubes which form the barrel 10 and preventing collapse of the tubes toward each other. A tight seal will be provided at the ends of the barrel where they contact the inner plates 18 of the heads.

The center opening 21 permits the reel to be mounted upon a mandrel for turning the same to assemble the wire thereon or for the discharge of wire after it has reached the point of its destination.

It will be apparent that various plastic materials may be utilized and various combinations may be utilized, the general overlying purpose being to provide a lightweight stiffening core between relatively stilfer and denser covering sheets which form the outer surface of the heads and barrel. It will also be apparent that in the assembly of the reel or spool that tight seals will be provided to prevent the entry of liquid to contact the core material such as the provision of any good tight sealing means between the joints of the parts of the reel, Where the plastic material forms the outer surface of the barrel and heads, a substantial welding of the parts may be had and likewise by suitable solvents and adhesives.

We claim:

1. A reel comprising a barrel with heads at the ends of the barrel, said heads each comprising spaced plastic plates reinforced with glass fibers with an opening at the axial center, a supporting core between said plates and contacting both of said plates, lips at said center opening and at the outer periphery of each head extending from one plate to the other plate enclosing said core, said barrel comprising spaced concentric tubes with a supporting core between said tubes and contacting said tubes, said supporting cores for said heads and barrel being of foam plastic material of less density than the material of said plates and tubes.

2. A reel as in claim 1 wherein said lips are on each plate and telescope one within the other.

3. A reel as in claim 1 wherein the inner plates provide projections over which the inner tube of the barrel telescopes to locate the barrel with reference to the heads.

No references cited.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

G. F. MAUTZ, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A REEL COMPRISING A BARREL WITH HEADS AT THE ENDS OF THE BARREL, SAID HEADS EACH COMPRISING SPACED PLASTIC PLATES REINFORCED WITH GLASS FIBERS WITH AN OPENING AT THE AXIAL CENTER, A SUPPORTING CORE BETWEEN SAID PLATES AND CONTACTING BOTH OF SAID PLATES, LIPS AT SAID CENTER OPENING AND AT THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF EACH HEAD EXTENDING FROM ONE PLATE TO THE OTHER PLATE ENCLOSING SAID CORE, SAID BARREL COMPRISING SPACED CONCENTRIC TUBES WITH A SUPPORTING CORE BETWEEN SAID TUBES AND CONTACTING SAID TUBES, SAID SUPPORTING CORES FOR SAID HEADS AND BARREL BEING OF FOAM PLASTIC MATERIAL OF LESS DENSITY THAN THE MATERIAL OF SAID PLATES AND TUBES.

Images