Wire Reel Assembly

Abstract

A wire reel assembly includes: a reel including a barrel having opposite first and second axial ends, and a first flange extending radially and outwardly from the first axial end of the barrel, the barrel being formed with at least one slot unit extending axially between the first and second axial ends; and a reel extension including an extension flange parallel to the first flange, and at least one inserting unit extending axially from the extension flange into the slot unit and slidable axially relative to the reel between first and second axial positions such that an axial distance between the extension flange and the first flange is increased when the inserting unit is moved from the first axial position to the second axial position.

1 . A wire reel assembly comprising:
 a reel including a barrel having opposite first and second axial ends, and a first flange extending radially and outwardly from said first axial end of said barrel, said barrel being formed with at least one slot unit extending axially between said first and second axial ends; and   a reel extension including an extension flange parallel to said first flange, and at least one inserting unit extending axially from said extension flange into said slot unit and slidable axially relative to said reel between first and second axial positions such that an axial distance between said extension flange and said first flange is increased when said inserting unit is moved from the first axial position to the second axial position.   
   
   
       2 . The wire reel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one retaining unit that includes first and second interlocking members respectively provided on said slot unit and said inserting unit, engaging releasably each other when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position, and disengaging each other when said inserting unit is disposed at the second axial position, said retaining unit further including third and fourth interlocking members respectively provided on said slot unit and said inserting unit, engaging releasably each other when said inserting unit is disposed at the second axial position, and disengaging each other when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position. 
   
   
       3 . The wire reel assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said slot unit is defined by a slot-defining wall that has inner and outer wall portions which are centered at an axis of said barrel and which are radially spaced apart to define a slot therebetween, said inner wall portion being formed with at least one first retaining groove which defines said first interlocking member, said inserting unit including an inserting plate extending into said slot and formed with a first resilient tongue that defines said second interlocking member and that engages said first retaining groove when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position. 
   
   
       4 . The wire reel assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said inner wall portion of said slot-defining wall has two opposing arcuate segments that are spaced apart from each other and that cooperatively define a receiving space in spatial communication with said slot, said barrel having an inner wall that defines an inner space in spatial communication with said receiving space between said arcuate segments, and being formed with an inner flange that extends radially and inwardly from said inner wall and that defines said third interlocking member, said inserting unit further including a cylindrical wall that extends from said inserting plate into said receiving space between said arcuate segments and that is formed with a second resilient tongue which defines said fourth interlocking member, which is axially spaced apart from said inner flange when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position, and which abuts against said inner flange when said inserting unit is disposed at the second axial position. 
   
   
       5 . The wire reel assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reel further includes a second flange that extends radially and outwardly from said second axial end of said barrel and that has two flange halves which are diametrically disposed and which cooperatively define two sector-shaped spaces therebetween, said extension flange having two flange halves that are respectively received in said sector-shaped spaces when said inserting unit is disposed at the first axial position.