Boxed pay-out reel for optic fiber cable or wire or the like, with

Abstract

A boxed spool assembly of the present invention includes a spool assembly, a pair of end plates for supporting the spool assembly for rotation, and a box in which the spool assembly and end plates are placed. The bottom of the box is self-locking and requires no tape. Further, the box is constructed so that the overlapping of multiple layers of corrugated fiberboard is avoided in the bottom of the box so that the spool assembly can rotate without interference. The box includes starburst cuts to hold the loose end of cable or wire wound on the spool assembly so that a user can readily locate the loose end. One starburst cut has a slit communicating with a horizontal slot. Cable or wire can be paid-out or held in position by pulling the cable to the slot or starburst cut, respectively, by the slit. The end plates include polycarbonate material and have openings corresponding with openings in the box, to provide handholds for the user. The end plates have arbors protruding away from the plate surfaces of the end plates to hold flanges of the spool assembly away from the end plates for frictionless rotation. The arbors of the end plates that support the spool assembly have annular flat ledge surfaces to confine the flanges of the spool assembly away from the end plates. The protrusions of the arbors are drafted or tapered to cause the spool assembly to be centered in the box and to ride away from the end plates. Corner supports are provided on the end plates to prevent the corners of the end plates from cutting through the box and also to maintain the box in the proper configuration. The arbors and corner supports include rib reinforcements. The boxed spool assembly is sized in accordance with industry standard shipment sizes.