Amphenol Corporation

Times Fiber Communications, Inc.

Barry Holt

Caichun Song

Rakesh Thakare

Marvin Bryant

Paul Richard Boucher

Phillip Stanley Bowen

Paul R Boucher

Phillip S Bowen

A cable reel that includes a one-piece frame body, a flange separate from the frame body, and a hub member therebetween. The one-piece frame body includes an outer frame portion and an inner flange portion. The flange has an inner side that faces the inner side of the one-piece frame body. The hub member is located between the one-piece frame body and the flange along a central longitudinal axis of the cable reel. The hub member has a first end that rotatably couples to the inner flange portion of the one-piece frame body and a second end that couples to the flange. The hub member is configured to support a coil of cable and is sized to be received inside of an inner diameter of the coil of cable. The flange and the hub member rotate together with respect to the one-piece frame body.

Cable reel

A cable reel apparatus that has a cable reel for holding a coil of cable and includes a central longitudinal axis. A first flange is configured to be rotatably coupled to a first frame and has opposite inner and outer sides. A second flange that is separate from the first flange is configured to be rotatably coupled to a second frame and has opposite inner and outer sides. One of the first and second flanges includes a hub portion that extends transversely from the inner side thereof. The first and second flanges are configured to be releasably coupled to one another for supporting a coil of cable on the hub portion between the first and second flanges along the central longitudinal axis of the cable reel and are configured to be decoupled from one another when replacing the coil of cable once dispensed from the cable reel apparatus.

A method of installing cable on a cable reel apparatus that includes providing a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable for installing on a separable cable reel. The cable reel includes a first flange that is configured to be rotatably coupled to a first frame, and the first flange has opposite inner and outer sides, and a second flange that is separate from the first flange and is configured to be rotatably coupled to a second frame, and the second flange has opposite inner and outer sides. One of the first and second flanges includes a hub portion that extends transversely from the inner side thereof. The method also includes instructing a user to releasably couple the first and second flanges to support the pre-wound, reel-lees coil of cable on the hub portion between the first and second flanges along the central longitudinal axis of the separable cable reel.

Method of installing cable on cable reel

A system for using a cable reel apparatus that includes providing components of a separable cable reel for assembly of a cable reel apparatus. The components include a first frame, a second frame, and the second frame is separate from the first frame. A first flange is configured to engage the first frame. The outer side of the first flange faces the first frame when the first flange is engaged therewith. A second flange is configured to engage the second frame. The outer side of the second flange faces the second frame when the second flange is engaged therewith. The system also includes providing a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable that is separate from the separable cable reel. The first and second flanges are configured to releasably couple with one another to support the pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable therebetween.

Cable reel and system of use

A method of installing a coil of cable on a cable reel apparatus that includes the steps of placing the coil of cable on a first flange of a separable cable reel of the cable reel apparatus; releasably coupling the first flange with a separate second flange of the separable cable reel after placing the coil of cable on the first flange; and placing the separable cable reel in a bag of the cable reel apparatus. The first flange includes a hub portion configured to be received in an inner diameter of the coil of cable, and the hub portion supports the coil of cable between the first and second flanges when the first and second flanges are releasably coupled. The coil of cable is a pre-wound, reel-less coil of cable.

A cable reel apparatus that includes a bag, a first frame that is configured to be received inside the bag, a first flange that is configured to be removably engaged with the first frame, a second frame that is configured to be received inside the bag, a second flange that is configured to be removably engaged with said second frame, and a hub member that is configured to releasably couple the first flange with the second flange, and the hub member is configured to support a coil of cable.

A cable payout apparatus that comprises a bag with a payout opening for dispensing cable, and first and second frames inside the bag. A first flange is configured to be rotatably coupled to the first frame. A second flange is configured to be rotatably coupled to the second frame. An elongated wall extends from the first flange and releasably couples to the second flange for supporting a coil of cable between the first and second flanges. The first frame is positioned in the base of the bag and the second frame is positioned at the cover of the bag, such that when the cover of the bag is closed with respect to the base of the bag, the second frame releasably couples with the second flange and such that when the cover of the bag is opened, the second frame decouples from the second flange.

A kit of separate components for assembly of a cable reel apparatus that includes a pre-wound coil of cable, a bag, first and second frames having a geometry configured to fit inside of the base of the bag, and first and second flanges. The first flange is configured for engaging the first frame and has a first hub portion on the inner surface of the first flange. The second flange is configured for engaging the second frame has a second hub portion on the inner surface of the second flange. The first and second hub portions are sized to fit within the inner diameter of the coil of cable and are configured to releasably couple with one another to form a hub member for supporting the coil of cable between the first and second flanges.

Methods of installing a cable reel or a coil of cable in a bag. The methods can include one or more steps such as releasably coupling a hub portion of a first flange with a second flange of the cable reel, and the hub portion is configured to support a coil of cable, placing the first flange on a first support frame secured to a base of the bag; and placing a coil of cable on the hub portion for dispensing the cable from the bag.

A cable reel that has at least one support frame having an outwardly extending braking gear member and a first flange having a central opening with an internal braking gear member engaging the outwardly extending gear member of the frame, thereby rotatably coupling the at least one support frame and the first flange. A hub is provided between the first flange and a second flange that opposes the first flange. The hub is configured to support cable, wherein the engagement of the gear members provides friction for cable payoff from the hub.

Cable reel with braking

A method of installing cable on a cable reel that has the steps of providing a cable reel that includes first and second opposing flanges where the first flange has a first hub portion and the second flange having a second hub portion and the first hub portion has one or more flexible segments; placing a cable coil over the first hub portion and on the first flange so that the first hub portion substantially extends through an inner diameter of the cable coil; and expanding the one or more flexible segments by inserting the second hub portion inside of the first hub portion so that the one or more flexible segments engage the cable coil.

A cable reel that has at least one support frame having an outwardly extending braking gear member, the outwardly extending gear member being located off-center on the frame; a first flange having a central opening and a first hub portion surrounding the central opening, the central opening having an internal braking gear member engaging the outwardly extending gear member of the frame, thereby rotatably coupling the at least one support frame and the first flange; and a second flange opposing the first flange, the second flange having a second hub portion, the first and second hub portions being configured to mate with one another to support cable, wherein the engagement of the gear members providing a friction for cable payoff.

A method of installing cable on a cable reel that has the steps of providing a cable reel that includes first and second opposing flanges, the first flange having a first hub portion and the second flange having a second hub portion, the first hub portion being longer than the second hub portion, the first hub portion having a plurality of flexible segments; placing a cable coil over the first hub portion and on the first flange so that the first hub portion extends through the cable coil; and inserting the second hub portion inside of the first hub portion, thereby expanding the flexible segments so that flexible segments engage the cable coil.

A cable reel that has first and second opposing flanges. The first flange has a first hub portion and the second flange has a second hub portion. The first and second hub portions are axial aligned and configured to mate with one another to support cable. The first hub portion includes an elongated wall extends from the first flange. The elongated wall is sized to support cable. The elongated wall defines an inner area that is configured to accept the second hub portion. The elongated wall includes a plurality of flexible segments. The second hub portion includes a truncated wall that is receivable in the inner area of the first hub portion. The truncated wall includes a tapered outer surface for engaging and expanding the plurality of flexible segments.

Growing community of inventors

Ottawa, Canada

Barry Holt