Adjustable reloadable cable reel

Abstract

A reel for storing a cable coil includes first and second facing flanges. First, second and third cylindrical rods define a hub and have first ends attached to the first flange and opposite, second ends extending through holes formed in the second flange. A guidepost has a first end attached to the first flange and a second end passing through an opening in the second flange. A lock set allows a distance between the first and second flanges to be selected. Attachment positions of the first ends of the cylindrical rods to the first flange are manually or automatically adjustable to change a diameter of the hub. Bushings within end openings of the guidepost control the rotation payout speed of the reel, and a parking park feature is provided at the second end of the guidepost to block rotation of the reel.

1 . A reel for storing a coil of cable comprising:
 a first generally circular flange having a first side and a second side;   first, second and third elongated members, each elongated member having a first end attached to said first flange and an opposite, second end extended away from said first side of said first flange, a spacing between said first, second and third elongated members defining a diameter of a hub;   a second generally circular flange having a first side and a second side, wherein said first side of said second flange faces said first side of said first flange, said second flange including first, second and third through holes, wherein said second ends of said first, second and third elongated members pass through said first, second and third through holes, respectively, so as to reside beyond said second side of said second flange;   a guidepost having a first end attached to a central portion of said first flange and a second end passing through a guidepost opening formed in a central portion of said second flange; and   a lock set having a first part formed along an exterior portion of said guidepost and a second part attached to said second side of said second flange proximate said guidepost opening, said lock set allowing said second flange to be selective locked to different positions along said guidepost to set a desired distance between said first and second flanges.   
     
     
         2 . The reel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one first end of said first, second and third elongated members is adjustable in its attachment to said first flange so that the diameter of said hub may be adjusted. 
     
     
         3 . The reel according to  claim 2 , wherein each first end of said first, second and third elongated members is adjustable in its attachment to said first flange. 
     
     
         4 . The reel according to  claim 3 , wherein each first end of said first, second and third elongated members includes a first threaded portion to accept a threaded faster, so as to attached said first ends to said first flange, and further comprising:
 elastic washers installed between said first ends of said first, second and third elongated members and said first flange, which allow said first, second and third elongated members to tilt relative to said first flange.   
     
     
         5 . The reel according to  claim 3 , wherein each first end of said first, second and third elongated members includes a first threaded portion to accept a threaded faster, so as to attached said first ends to said first flange, and wherein said first threaded portion is a threaded bore hole and said threaded fastener is a threaded bolt to be received within said threaded bore hole, wherein said first flange includes first, second and third slots to receive shaft portions of said threaded bolts, and wherein said second side of said first flange includes indentations formed alongside edges of said first, second and third slots to seat heads of said threaded bolts at different locations along said first, second and third slots. 
     
     
         6 . The reel according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 first, second and third partial or full funnel-shaped attachments mounted to or integrally formed with said first side of said second flange, each of said first, second and third partial or full funnel-shaped attachments being located adjacent to said first, second and third through holes, respectively, to guide said second ends of said first, second and third elongated members toward and into said first, second and third through holes, respectively.   
     
     
         7 . The reel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first, second and third elongated members is spring biased to be offset radially outward away from said guidepost, and can be moved radially inward toward said guidepost against the spring bias. 
     
     
         8 . The reel according to  claim 1 , wherein said first, second and third elongated members are spring biased to be offset radially outward away from said guidepost, and can be moved radially inward toward said guidepost against the spring bias, and wherein said first, second and third through holes in said second flange are shaped as arcuate slots, and wherein first, second and third springs are anchored to said first flange and to each of said first, second and third elongated members, respectively, and tend to bias each of said first, second and third elongated members to an end of its respective arcuate slot within said second flange, which is more radially spaced from said guidepost than an opposite end of its respective arcuate slot. 
     
     
         9 . The reel according to  claim 1 , wherein said guidepost is formed as a generally cylindrical shaft, and wherein said first part of said lock set is formed as a plurality of locking holes, each locking hole of said plurality of locking holes being spaced apart from other locking holes of said plurality of locking holes in a direction from said second end of said guidepost to said first end of said guidepost; and
 wherein said second part of said lock set is formed as a collar attached to said second flange, said collar having an inner opening which is larger than a diameter of said generally cylindrical shaft, so that said collar may slide over a section of said shaft, said collar including a spring-loaded plunger captured therein, said spring-loaded plunger having a pin biased to extend away from said collar toward said guidepost and to engage within a user selected locking hole of said plurality of locking holes, and wherein said spring-loaded plunger includes a handle attached to said pin to manually pull said pin away from said guidepost and disengage said pin from said locking hole.   
     
     
         10 . The reel according to  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a coil of cable encircling said hub formed by said first, second and third elongated members, and residing between said first and second flanges.   
     
     
         11 . The reel according to  claim 1 , wherein said guidepost includes a first end opening formed into said first end of said guidepost, which extends into said guidepost in the direction of said second end of said guidepost, and a second end opening formed into said second end of said guidepost, which extends into said guidepost in the direction of said first end of said guidepost, and further comprising:
 a first polymer bushing received within said first end opening; and   a second polymer bushing received within said second end opening, and wherein said first polymer bushing includes a first lip extending outside of said first end opening of said guidepost, and wherein said second polymer bushing includes a second lip extending outside of said second end opening of said guidepost.   
     
     
         12 . The reel according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a first o-ring seated into a first groove formed within said first lip; and   a second o-ring seated into a second groove formed within said second lip, wherein said first o-ring generates a frictional force tending to resist rotation of said first lip around a first spindle inserted into said first bushing, and said second o-ring generates a frictional force tending to resist rotation of said second lip around a second spindle inserted into said second bushing.   
     
     
         13 . The reel according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a parking brake having a first feature attached to one of said first and second ends of said guidepost for selective locking with a second feature attached to a reel support, so that rotation of said reel relative to the reel support is blocked when said first feature of said parking brake is lock to the second feature.   
     
     
         14 . The reel according to  claim 13 , wherein said first feature is a parking brake through hole formed within a parking brake plate attached to said second end of said guidepost. 
     
     
         15 . A reel for storing a coil of communication cable comprising:
 a first flange having a first side and a second side;   a plurality of arcuate first slots formed within said first side of said first flange, each slot of said plurality of arcuate first slots having a first end closer to a center of said first flange than a second end;   a second flange having a first side and a second side, where said first side of said second flange faces to said first side of said first flange;   a plurality of arcuate second slots formed within said first side of said second flange, each slot of said plurality of arcuate second slots having a first end closer to a center of said second flange than a second end;   a plurality of elongated member, each elongated member having a first end within or passing through one of said plurality of arcuate first slots, and an opposite, second end within or passing through one of said plurality of arcuate second slots, wherein said plurality of elongated members have surfaces serving as a hub for a coil of cable placed between said first and second flanges;   at least one biasing member causing said plurality of elongated members to assume positions within said pluralities of arcuate first and second slots so as to bear against said second ends of said arcuate first and second slots; and   a guidepost attached to said first flange and extending away from said first side of said first flange and being attached to said second flange to hold said second flange at a set distance from said first flange.   
     
     
         16 . The reel according to  claim 15 , wherein said guidepost is a central shaft attached to a center of said first flange and passing through a central shaft opening within said second flange, and further comprising:
 a lock set attached to said central shaft and to said second flange and being manually actuated to engage said second flange to said central shaft and disengage said second flange from central shaft, so that said second flange may be slid along said central shaft to a desired position and then fixed to said central shaft by actuating said lock set to hold said second flange at a fixed distance from said first flange.   
     
     
         17 . The reel according to  claim 16 , wherein said lock set includes a second part in the form of a spring-loaded collar attached to said second flange, which is biased to frictionally engage with a first part in the form of ribbed rings formed along said central shaft, said spring-loaded collar being releasable by finger pressure to allow said spring-loaded collar to slide along said central shaft until the finger pressure is removed. 
     
     
         18 . The reel according to  claim 16 , wherein said second ends of said plurality of elongated members extend through said plurality of arcuate second slots and further away from said second side of said second flange, as said second flange is moved closed to said first flange. 
     
     
         19 . The reel according to  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of arcuate first slots pass entirely through said first flange, and wherein said first ends of said plurality of elongated members pass entirely through said plurality of arcuate first slots to reside beyond said second side of said first flange. 
     
     
         20 . The reel according to  claim 15 , wherein said plurality of elongated members is formed by six cylindrical rods, and wherein said at least one biasing member includes:
 a plurality of actuating arms, each arm with a first end pivotally attached to said first flange and a second end attached to one of said plurality of elongated members; and   a plurality of springs, each spring having a first end attached to said first flange and a second end attached to one of said plurality of actuating arms, wherein said plurality of springs bias said plurality of actuating arms to cause said plurality of elongated members to assume positions in abutment with said second ends of said pluralities of arcuate first and second slots.