Media reel with locking arrangement

Abstract

A reel includes a core, a first flange, a first collar, and a first locking arrangement having a locked configuration in which a first end region of the core, the first flange, and the first collar are connected to one another, and an unlocked configuration in which the first end region of the core, the first flange, and the first collar are disconnected from one another. The first locking arrangement is movable between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.

1 . A reel comprising:
 a core;   a first flange;   a first collar;   a first locking arrangement having a locked configuration in which a first end region of the core, the first flange, and the first collar are connected to one another, and an unlocked configuration in which the first end region of the core, the first flange, and the first collar are disconnected from one another, the first locking arrangement being movable between the unlocked configuration and the locked configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The reel of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a hollow cylindrical body, and first locking arrangement comprises a plurality of windows defined through the hollow cylindrical body in the first end region. 
     
     
         3 . The reel of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first locking arrangement further comprises a plurality of locking members of the first flange,   in the locked configuration, each of the plurality of locking members is arranged in a respective one of the plurality of windows so as to engage a surface that defines the one of the plurality of windows to disable axial movement of the core relative to the first flange, and   in the unlocked configuration, each of the plurality of locking members is arranged outside the respective one of the plurality of windows.   
     
     
         4 . The reel of  claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of locking members comprises:
 a proximal end region from which the locking member is cantilevered; and   an opposite distal end region, each locking member being pivotable about the proximal end region such that, in the locked configuration, at least a portion of the distal end region is arranged in the respective one of the plurality of windows, and, in the unlocked configuration, the distal end region is spaced apart from the respective one of the plurality of windows.   
     
     
         5 . The reel of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the locking arrangement further comprises a plurality of tabs of the first collar, each of which extends radially outwardly and engages a radially inward surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of locking members,   each of the plurality of locking members has a greater radial width at the distal end region than at the proximal end region, and   when moving from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration, the first collar is rotated such that each tab of the plurality of tabs moves circumferentially along the radially inward surface so as to cause the corresponding one of the plurality of locking members to pivot about the proximal end region such that the distal end region of each of the plurality of locking members moves into the respective one of the plurality of windows.   
     
     
         6 . The reel of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first collar comprises a disk-shaped region and a circular projection that projects from the disk-shaped region in an axial direction of the reel, and   each of the plurality of tabs extends radially outwardly from the circular projection.   
     
     
         7 . The reel of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the locking arrangement further comprises:
 a plurality of pins of the first collar that project axially from the disk-shaped region, each pin of the plurality of pins including a pin proximal end region arranged at the disk-shaped region and a pin distal end region, the pin distal end region including a radial extension that projects in the radial direction; and 
 a plurality of slots defined axially through the first flange, and 
   in the locked configuration, each of the plurality of pins passes through an associated one of the plurality of slots and the radial extension engages an axial surface of the first flange opposite the disk-shaped region so as to radially retain the first collar on the first flange.   
     
     
         8 . The reel of  claim 7 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of slots comprises an axial recess, and   in the unlocked configuration, the first collar is configured such that the radial extension of the plurality of pins aligns with the axial recess of the associated one of the plurality of slots to enable axial movement of the first collar relative to the first flange.   
     
     
         9 . The reel of  claim 8 , wherein:
 a radial bump is arranged in each of the plurality of slots, and   each of the plurality of axial pins and the radial bump in each of the plurality of slots is configured to elastically deform to enable the each of the plurality of axial pins to pass the radial bump of the associated one of the plurality of slots when moving from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration and, in the locked configuration, the radial bump of the associated one of the plurality of slots resists movement of each of the plurality of axial pins so as to retain the locking arrangement in the locked configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The reel of  claim 9 , wherein the locking arrangement further comprise a first annular channel defined by a first annular wall of the first flange and a second annular wall of the first flange, the first annular channel being radially aligned with the plurality of slots such that, in the locked configuration, the plurality of axial pins extend through the first annular channel. 
     
     
         11 . The reel of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second flange;   a second collar; and   a second locking arrangement having a second locked configuration in which the second end region of the core, the second flange, and the second collar are connected to one another, and a second unlocked configuration in which the second end region of the core, the second flange, and the second collar are disconnected from one another, the second locking arrangement being movable between the second unlocked configuration and the second locked configuration.   
     
     
         12 . A method of connecting a core, a first flange, and a first collar of a reel to one another comprising:
 moving a first locking arrangement from an unlocked configuration, in which a first end region of the core, the first flange, and the first collar are disconnected from one another, to a locked configuration in which the first end region of the core, the first flange, and the first collar are connected to one another.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the moving of the first locking arrangement comprises:
 moving a plurality of locking members of the first flange from outside a respective one of a plurality of windows defined in the first end region of the core in the unlocked configuration, such that axial movement of the core relative to the first flange is enabled, into the respective one of the plurality of windows in the locked configuration such that each of the plurality of locking members engages a surface that defines the respective one of the plurality of windows so as to disable axial movement of the core relative to the first flange.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of locking members has a proximal end region from which the locking member is cantilevered, and an opposite distal end region, each locking member being pivotable about the proximal end region such that, in the locked configuration, at least a portion of the distal end region is arranged in the respective one of the plurality of windows, and, in the unlocked configuration, the distal end region is spaced apart from the respective one of the plurality of windows. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the locking arrangement further comprises a plurality of tabs of the first collar, each of which extends radially outwardly and engages a radially inward surface of a corresponding one of the plurality of locking members,   each the plurality of locking members has a greater radial width at the distal end region than at the proximal end region, and   the moving of the first locking arrangement from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration further comprises:
 rotating the first collar such that each tab of the plurality of tabs moves circumferentially along the radially inward surface so as to cause the corresponding one of the plurality of locking members to pivot about the proximal end region such that the distal end region of each of the plurality of locking members moves into the respective one of the plurality of windows. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first collar comprises a disk-shaped region and a circular projection that projects from the disk-shaped region in an axial direction of the reel, and   the plurality of tabs extend radially outwardly from the circular projection.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the locking arrangement further comprises:
 a plurality of pins of the first collar that project axially from the disk-shaped region, each pin of the plurality of pins including a pin proximal end region arranged at the disk-shaped region and a pin distal end region, the pin distal end region including a radial extension that projects in the radial direction; and 
 a plurality of slots defined axially through the first flange, and 
   the moving of the first locking arrangement from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration further comprises:
 passing each of the plurality of pins through an associated one of the plurality of slots such that the radial extension engages an axial surface of the first flange opposite the disk-shaped region so as to radially retain the first collar on the first flange. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of slots comprises an axial recess, and   the moving of the first locking arrangement from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration further comprises:
 aligning the radial extension of the plurality of pins with the axial recess of the associated one of the plurality of slots and inserting the each of the plurality of pins axially through associated one of the plurality of slots; and 
 rotating the first collar such that the radial extension engages the axial surface of the first flange. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 a radial bump is arranged in each of the plurality of slots,   the moving of the first locking arrangement from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration further comprises:
 rotating the first collar such that the plurality of axial pins and the radial bumps elastically deform to enable each of the plurality of axial pins to pass the radial bump of the associated one of the plurality of slots; and 
   the method further comprises, in the locked configuration, resisting movement of each of the plurality of axial pins with the radial bump of the associated one of the plurality of slots so as to retain the locking arrangement in the locked configuration.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the locking arrangement further comprises a first annular channel defined by a first annular wall of the first flange and a second annular wall of the first flange, the first annular channel being radially aligned with the plurality of slots such that, in the locked configuration, the plurality of axial pins extend through the first annular channel.