Fiber optic-electrical cable reel assembly

Abstract

A cable reel or cable reel assembly is provided for storing, deploying, retrieving and transporting a cable assembly (having a cable and connectors). The cable reel includes a central hub and two side flanges constructed, in one embodiment, of composite plastic material having reinforcing material(s). An annular rim and spaced apart spoke sections in each side flange function to provide multiple carrying handles. In a specific embodiment, a secondary hub (and third flange) adjacent the central hub is positioned and disposed within a side periphery defined by the annular rim of one of the side flanges enabling two cable reels to be stacked together such that the annular rims of respective cable reels may be in close or actual contact. In another embodiment, a retractable handle is disposed within the side periphery when in the retracted position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cable reel comprising:
 a central hub having a first end and a second end;   a first flange coupled to the first end of the central hub and having a first annular rim defining an first outer periphery;   a second flange coupled to the second end of the central hub and having a second annular rim defining an second outer periphery and a side periphery;   a secondary hub adjacent the central hub having a first end and a second end, the first flange coupled to the first end of the secondary hub;   a third flange coupled to the second end of the secondary hub; and   wherein the secondary hub and third flange are disposed within the side periphery of the first flange.   
     
     
         2 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the central hub comprises a first portion and a second portion;
 the first portion of the central hub, the first flange and the secondary hub comprise plastic reinforced material and are formed together as a single unitary piece; and 
 the second portion of the central hub and the second flange comprise plastic reinforced material and are formed together as a single unitary piece. 
 
     
     
         3 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a retractable handle configured to be disposed within the side periphery of the first flange when in a retracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the first flange further comprises:
 a plurality of spoke sections coupled to the secondary hub and extending to and coupled to the first annular rim of the first flange; and 
 a plurality of open spaces disposed in the first flange between adjacent spoke sections, each open space defined by a portion of the first annular rim and two adjacent spoke sections; and 
 wherein each open space and its adjacent portion of the first annular rim are capable of operating as a carrying handle. 
 
     
     
         5 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the second flange further comprises:
 a plurality of spoke sections coupled to the central hub and extending to and coupled to the second annular rim of the second flange; and 
 a plurality of open spaces disposed in the second flange between adjacent spoke sections, each open space defined by a portion of the second annular rim and two adjacent spoke sections; and 
 wherein each open space and its adjacent portion of the second annular rim are capable of operating as a carrying handle. 
 
     
     
         6 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 4  wherein the number of spoke sections equals four or more and the number of open areas equals four or more. 
     
     
         7 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of notches, each notch disposed in the first annular rim of the first flange and disposed within a portion of a spoke section, the spoke section rigidly securing the first annular rim to a central portion of the first flange. 
 
     
     
         8 . A cable reel comprising:
 a central hub having a first end and a second end;   a first flange coupled to the first end of the central hub and having a first annular rim defining an first outer periphery, the first annular rim including at least one notch therein for receiving a portion of a cable, the first flange comprising,
 a plurality of first spoke sections coupled to the central hub and extending to and coupled to the first annular rim of the first flange, 
 a plurality of first open spaces disposed in the first flange between adjacent first spoke sections, each first open space defined by a portion of the first annular rim and two adjacent first spoke sections, and 
 wherein each first open space and its adjacent portion of the first annular rim are capable of operating as a carrying handle for the cable reel; and 
   a second flange coupled to the second end of the central hub and having a second annular rim defining an second outer periphery, the second flange comprising,
 a plurality of second spoke sections coupled to the central hub and extending to and coupled to the second annular rim of the second flange, and 
 a plurality of second open spaces disposed in the second flange between adjacent second spoke sections, each second open space defined by a portion of the second annular rim and two adjacent second spoke sections; and 
 wherein each second open space and its adjacent portion of the second annular rim are capable of operating as a carrying handle for the cable reel. 
   
     
     
         9 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising:
 a secondary hub adjacent the central hub and having a first end and a second end, the first flange coupled to the first end of the secondary hub; 
 a third flange coupled to the second end of the secondary hub; and 
 wherein the secondary hub and third flange are disposed within a side periphery of the first flange defined by the first annular rim of the first flange. 
 
     
     
         10 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the central hub comprises a first portion and a second portion;
 the first portion of the central hub and the first flange comprise plastic reinforced material and are formed together as a single unitary piece; and 
 the second portion of the central hub and the second flange comprise plastic reinforced material and are formed together as a single unitary piece. 
 
     
     
         11 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising a retractable handle configured to be disposed within a side periphery of the first flange when in a retracted position, the side periphery defined by the first annular rim of the first flange. 
     
     
         12 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 8  wherein the number of first spoke sections equals four or more and the number of first open areas equals four or more. 
     
     
         13 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 8  further comprising:
 a plurality of notches, each notch disposed in the first annular rim of the first flange and disposed within a portion of a spoke section, the spoke section rigidly securing the first annular rim to a central portion of the first flange. 
 
     
     
         14 . A cable reel assembly comprising:
 a cable reel, the cable reel comprising,
 a central hub having first and second ends, 
 first and second side flanges coupled to opposite ends of the central hub, each side flange including an annular rim defining an outer periphery and a plurality of spoke sections and a plurality of open spaces disposed between adjacent spoke sections wherein each side space and an adjacent portion of the annular rim are capable of operating as a carrying handle for the cable reel assembly, and wherein at least one of the annular rims of the side flanges includes at least one notch therein, 
 a secondary hub adjacent the central hub and having a first end and a second end, the first flange coupled to the first end of the secondary hub, and 
 a third flange coupled to the second end of the secondary hub such that the secondary hub and third flange are disposed within a side periphery of the first flange defined by the annular rim of the first flange; and 
   a cable assembly having a cable, a first connector and a second connector, the first and second connectors coupled to respective ends of the cable, the cable further comprising,
 a first portion wound around the central hub, and
 a second portion wound around a secondary hub. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The cable reel assembly in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the central hub comprises a first portion and a second portion;
 the first portion of the central hub, the first flange and the secondary hub comprise plastic reinforced material and are formed together as a single unitary piece; and 
 the second portion of the central hub and the second flange comprise plastic reinforced material and are formed together as a single unitary piece. 
 
     
     
         16 . The cable reel assembly in accordance with  claim 14  wherein the cable reel further comprises a retractable handle configured to be disposed within the side periphery of the first flange when in a retracted position. 
     
     
         17 . A cable reel comprising:
 a central hub having a first end and a second end;   a first flange coupled to the first end of the central hub and having a first annular rim defining an first outer periphery, the first annular rim including at least one notch therein for receiving a portion of a cable, the first flange comprising,
 at least four first spoke sections coupled to the central hub and extending to and coupled to the first annular rim of the first flange, 
 at least four first open spaces disposed in the first flange between adjacent first spoke sections, each first open space defined by a portion of the first annular rim and two adjacent first spoke sections, and 
 wherein each first open space and its adjacent portion of the first annular rim are capable of operating as a carrying handle for the cable reel; 
   a second flange coupled to the second end of the central hub and having a second annular rim defining an second outer periphery, the second flange comprising,
 at least four second spoke sections coupled to the central hub and extending to and coupled to the second annular rim of the second flange, and 
 at least four second open spaces disposed in the second flange between adjacent second spoke sections, each second open space defined by a portion of the second annular rim and two adjacent second spoke sections, and 
 wherein each second open space and its adjacent portion of the second annular rim are capable of operating as a carrying handle for the cable reel; 
   a secondary hub adjacent the central hub having a first end and a second end, the first flange coupled to the first end of the secondary hub;   a third flange coupled to the second end of the secondary hub; and   wherein the secondary hub and third flange are disposed within the side periphery of the first flange.   
     
     
         18 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the central hub comprises a first portion and a second portion;
 the first portion of the central hub, the first flange and the secondary hub comprise plastic reinforced material and are formed together as a single unitary piece; and 
 the second portion of the central hub and the second flange comprise plastic reinforced material and are formed together as a single unitary piece. 
 
     
     
         19 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the cable reel further comprises a retractable handle configured to be disposed within the side periphery of the first flange when in a retracted position. 
     
     
         20 . The cable reel in accordance with  claim 19  further comprising:
 a cable assembly having a cable, a first connector and a second connector, the first and second connectors coupled to respective ends of the cable, the cable further comprising,
 a first portion wound around the central hub, and 
 a second portion wound around a secondary hub.