Spool securing mechanism

Abstract

A spool-securing mechanism is presented herein and comprises a spool-engaging member including a rotation axis thereof, a spool-contacting member comprising a fixed portion fixedly secured to the spool-engaging member about the rotation axis and a mobile portion slidably secured to the spool-engaging member about the rotation axis, the mobile portion being distal and adjacent to the fixed portion, the spool-securing mechanism further comprising a torque member rotatably secured to the spool-engaging member distal to the mobile portion, the torque member comprising at least one radially disposed slot-engaging member, and a locking member secured to a distal end of the spool-engaging member. A kit and a method of use thereof are equally herein presented.

1 . A spool-securing mechanism comprising:
 a spool-engaging member including a rotation axis thereof;   a spool-contacting member comprising
 a fixed portion fixedly secured to the spool-engaging member about the rotation axis; and 
 a mobile portion slidably secured to the spool-engaging member along the rotation axis, the mobile portion being distal and adjacent to the fixed portion, 
 the spool-securing mechanism further comprising 
   a torque member rotatably secured to the spool-engaging member distal to the mobile portion, the torque member comprising at least one radially disposed slot-engaging member, and   a locking member secured to a distal end of the spool-engaging member for securing a spool on the torque member.   
     
     
         2 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed portion comprises a female key receiver sized and designed to secure a key lock therein to prevent rotation of the fixed portion with respect to the spool-engaging member. 
     
     
         3 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed portion is axially secured to the spool-engaging member with a fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile portion is secured to the spool-engaging member via a key lock to prevent rotation of the fixed portion with respect to the spool-engaging member. 
     
     
         5 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile portion is axially movable and biased from the fixed portion with a biasing member. 
     
     
         6 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the mobile portion includes four female key receivers therein. 
     
     
         7 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile portion includes two recessed portions in communication with four female key receivers sized and designed to limit angular rotation of the slot-engaging members therein. 
     
     
         8 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 7 , wherein the two recessed portions are sized and designed to allow angular rotation of the torque member of about 90 degree about the rotation axis, between a spool-locking configuration and a spool-engaging configuration, when the mobile portion is pushed against the fixed portion in a compressed configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 8 , wherein one slot-engaging member is aligned with the locking member in the spool-engaging configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 9 , wherein one slot-engaging member and the locking member have a similar profile. 
     
     
         11 . The spool-securing mechanism of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one radially disposed slot-engaging member is a pair of radially disposed slot-engaging members. 
     
     
         12 . A spool-securing kit comprising:
 a spool-engaging member including a rotation axis thereof;   a spool-contacting member comprising
 a fixed portion adapted to be fixedly secured to the spool-engaging member about the rotation axis; and 
 a mobile portion adapted to be slidably secured to the spool-engaging member about the rotation axis, the mobile portion being secured distal and adjacent to the fixed portion, 
 the spool-securing mechanism further comprising 
   a torque member adapted to be rotatably secured to the spool-engaging member distal to the mobile portion, the torque member comprising at least one radially disposed slot-engaging member, and   a locking member adapted to be secured to a distal end of the spool-engaging member.   
     
     
         13 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 12 , wherein the fixed portion comprises a female key receiver sized and designed to secure a key lock therein to prevent rotation of the fixed portion with respect to the spool-engaging member. 
     
     
         14 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 12 , wherein the fixed portion is adapted to be axially secured to the spool-engaging member with a fastener. 
     
     
         15 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 12 , wherein the mobile portion is adapted to be secured to the spool-engaging member via a key lock to prevent rotation of the fixed portion with respect to the spool-engaging member. 
     
     
         16 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 12 , wherein the mobile portion is adapted to be axially movable and biased from the fixed portion with a biasing member. 
     
     
         17 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 12 , wherein the mobile portion includes four female key receivers. 
     
     
         18 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 17 , wherein the mobile portion includes two recessed portions, each angularly communicating between a pair of adjacent female key receivers sized and designed to limit angular rotation of the slot-engaging members therein. 
     
     
         19 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 18 , wherein the two recessed portions are sized and designed to allow angular rotation of the torque member of 90 degree about the rotation axis, between a spool-locking configuration and a spool-engaging configuration, when the mobile portion is pushed against the fixed portion in a compressed configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 19 , wherein one slot-engaging member is adapted to be aligned with the locking member in the spool-engaging configuration. 
     
     
         21 . The spool-securing kit of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one radially disposed slot-engaging member is a pair of radially disposed slot-engaging members. 
     
     
         22 . A method of securing a spool to a spool-securing mechanism, the method comprising:
 axially aligning a slot-engaging member and a locking member of the spool-securing mechanism;   axially engaging a central opening and a locking member receiver of a spool with a spool-engaging member, the slot-engaging member thereof and the locking member thereof of the spool-securing mechanism;   axially pushing the spool on the spool-engaging member to apply pressure against a mobile portion toward against a fixed portion of the spool-securing mechanism to disengage a torque member from the mobile portion;   rotating the spool 90 degree to rotate the torque member of the spool-securing mechanism; and   axially releasing the pressure against the mobile portion of the spool-securing mechanism to lock the torque member with the mobile portion and lock the spool on the spool-securing mechanism with the locking member.