Other

David Vossen

Donald J Maxwell

A lightweight, collapsible, readily repairable, minimum thickness reel for cable, conduit, tubing or the like and the components of which are preferably molded of synthetic resin material. The end flanges of the reel each have a flat inner surface and a cellular outer surface for decreased weight. Molded, foldable ribbed tubing support units are interposed between the inner surfaces of the end flanges for receiving and supporting cable, conduit or tubing wound therearound when the support units are extended. The planar, inner surfaces of the end flanges have recesses for complementally receiving the rib portions of the leg segments of respective support units so that when the reel is in its collapsed condition the reel is not substantially thicker than the combined thickness of the side by side end flanges. The end flanges are molded of a synthetic resin material in a mold which receives pre-molded leg segments with a release agent thereon which results in concomitant forming of the recesses for the folding leg segments of the support units. A blowing agent may be incorporated in the resin in which the flanges are molded so that a relatively thin, tough, abrasion resistant skin is formed while the interior of the wall structure of the flange is of decreased density.

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Somerset, WI, United States of America

David Vossen