Cable reel assembly

Abstract

A cable reel assembly includes a fluted drum; a pair of circular flanges removeably attached to opposite ends of the drum; and a number of elongated rods that connect the flanges to the drum. The drum and flanges are preferably rotationally molded of synthetic resin materials and are partially hollow so as to minimize their weight.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: 
     
         1 . A reel assembly comprising:
 a fluted drum for winding an elongated object thereon, the fluted drum having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced ribs that define a plurality of circumferentially-spaced grooves between the ribs;   a pair of circular flanges removably attached to opposite ends of the fluted drum, each flange having a number of spaced connection holes aligned with at least some of the grooves in the fluted drum; and   a plurality of elongated rods positioned in at least some of the grooves of the fluted drum and extending through at least some of the connection holes in the flanges for removeably connecting the flanges to the fluted drum.   
     
     
         2 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , the fluted drum having between six and twenty ribs and between six and twenty grooves between the ribs. 
     
     
         3 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , the fluted drum having twelve ribs and twelve grooves between the ribs. 
     
     
         4 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , each of the grooves having a generally V-shape with a rounded vertex. 
     
     
         5 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising interlocking structure for interlocking the flanges and the drum to prevent the drum from rotating relative to the flanges. 
     
     
         6 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 5 , the interlocking structure comprising circular recesses on opposite ends of the drum, circular raised hubs on inner faces of the flanges that nest within the circular recesses, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced raised spokes that extend from each of the hubs and nest within ends of the grooves in the drum. 
     
     
         7 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , the flanges each having a central arbor hole for accommodating a cable reel handling tool. 
     
     
         8 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the fluted drum and circular flanges are rotationally-molded of synthetic resin materials and are partially hollow. 
     
     
         9 . A reel assembly comprising:
 a fluted drum for winding an elongated object thereon, wherein the fluted drum is rotationally-molded of synthetic resin materials and is partially hollow, the fluted drum having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced ribs that define a plurality of circumferentially-spaced grooves between the ribs;   a pair of circular flanges removably attached to opposite ends of the fluted drum, wherein each of the flanges is rotationally-molded of synthetic resin materials and has a number of spaced connection holes aligned with some of the grooves in the fluted drum;   a plurality of elongated rods positioned in at least some of the grooves of the fluted drum and extending through at least some of the connection holes in the flanges for removeably connecting the flanges to the fluted drum; and   interlocking structure for interlocking the flanges with the drum to prevent the drum from rotating relative to the flanges.   
     
     
         10 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , the interlocking structure comprising circular recesses on opposite ends of the drum, circular raised hubs on inner faces of the flanges that nest within the circular recesses, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced raised spokes that extend from each of the hubs and nest within ends of the grooves in the drum. 
     
     
         11 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , the fluted drum having between six and twenty ribs and between six and twenty grooves between the ribs. 
     
     
         12 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 11 , the fluted drum having twelve ribs and twelve grooves between the ribs. 
     
     
         13 . The reel assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , each of the grooves having a generally V-shape with a rounded vertex. 
     
     
         14 . A modular and adjustable cable reel assembly comprising:
 a plurality of fluted drums each configured for winding a length of cable thereon, each fluted drum having a different diameter, wherein each fluted drum is rotationally-molded of synthetic resin materials and is partially hollow, each fluted drum having a plurality of circumferentially-spaced ribs that define a plurality of circumferentially-spaced grooves between the ribs;   a pair of circular flanges that may be removably attached to opposite ends of either of the fluted drums so that the cable reel assembly may be assembled with a selected one of the drums of a desired diameter, wherein each of the flanges is rotationally-molded of synthetic resin materials and has a number of spaced holes axially aligned with at least some of the grooves in both the fluted drums;   a plurality of elongated rods positioned in at least some of the grooves of the selected fluted drum and extending through at least some of the holes in the flanges for removeably connecting the flanges to the selected fluted drum; and   interlocking structure for interlocking the flanges on the drum selected to prevent the selected drum from rotating relative to the flanges.   
     
     
         15 . The cable reel assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , the interlocking structure comprising circular recesses on opposite ends of the drums, circular raised hubs on inner faces of the flanges that nest within the circular recesses, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced raised spokes that extend from each of the hubs and nest within ends of the grooves in the drums. 
     
     
         16 . The cable reel assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , each fluted drum having between six and twenty ribs and between six and twenty grooves between the ribs. 
     
     
         17 . The cable reel assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , each fluted drum having twelve ribs and twelve grooves between the ribs. 
     
     
         18 . The cable reel assembly as set forth in  claim 14 , each of the grooves having a generally V-shape with a rounded vertex.