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`US 7,938,357 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
`a2) United States Patent
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`May10, 2011
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Johansonet al.
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`US007938357B2
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`(75)
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`;
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`(*) Notice:
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`(54) DISPENSER FOR ELONGATE MATERIAL
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`Inventors: James E. Johanson, Old Chatham, NY
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`(US); Fedor Baranoy, East Greenbush,
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`NY (US)
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`(73) Assignee: Sonoco Development, Inc., Hartsville,
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`SC (US)
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`;
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`Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis
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`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
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`US.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
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`(21) Appl. No.: 12/410,600
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`Mar.25, 2009
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`oo.
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`Prior Publication Data
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`US 2010/0243784 Al
`Sep. 30, 2010
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`Int. Cl.
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`BOSH 16/10
`(2006.01)
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`(52) US. Ch wee 242/588.6; 242/422.4; 242/595;
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`242/596.8; 242/599.4; 242/614
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`(58) Field of Classification Search .................. 242/422,
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`242/422.1, 422.4, 422.9, 614, 614.1, 595,
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`242/596, 596.7, 596.8, 599, 599.4, 588, 588.3,
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`242/588.6; 206/414, 415, 416, 408, 403,
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`206/413
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`See application file for complete search history.
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`References Cited
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`(22)
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`Filed:
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`(65)
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`(51)
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`(56)
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`2/1935 Sato icccccccen 242/588.1
`1,990,135 A
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`2,462,776 A
`2/1949 PHICE Lecce
`cece 225/33
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`2,822,992 A *
`2/1958 Moulden
`. 206/394
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`3,245,632 A *
`4/1966 Hicks woe 242/614
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`3,412,847 A
`11/1968 Wise et al.
`w. 242/588.4
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`3,614,067 A
`10/1971 Vermette oo... 242/370
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`3,650,389 A *
`3/1972 Mook wees 242/614
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`3,680,810 A
`8/1972 Jarmalow «uu... 242/171
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`3,693,784 A
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`4,244,254 A *
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`4,771,889 A *
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`4,903,833 A
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`5,449,070 A *
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`5,529,186 A
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`QN972 Holmes oo. 206/409
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`L/1981 Fish wc...
`wu. 242/596.8
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`9/1988 Baueret al.
`we. 242/588.3
`.
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`2/1990 Beery wn...
`306/407
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`9/1995 Broderick
`.. 206/416
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`6/1996 Bass wc ceceseeteeees 206/395
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`(Continued)
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`FR
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`524 386
`12/1920
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`(Continued)
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
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`Reel Options™ Vandor Corporation, Introducing EZ-GO™Reels
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`
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`with the E-Brake System, http://www.reeloptions.com/exbraket.
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`
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`htm, 3 pages, (Jul. 31, 2008).
`(Continued)
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`Primary Examiner — William A Rivera
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`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Flaster/Greenberg P.C.
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`ABSTRACT
`(57)
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`A device is provided for dispensing a length of elongate
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`material wound onthebarrelof a spool. A support is provided
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`for the spool including first and second end plates. The end
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`plates are positioned in a spaced relationship. A support hub
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`extends from each plate and is engaged within an opening in
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`the spool on opposite sides thereof, such that the spool may
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`rotate about the support hub. The support hub includes a
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`peripheral dimension that permits a dynamic, pivoting
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`motion of the spool about the contact with the hub. The
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`support hub normally positions the spool in a radially offset
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`position and engagesa friction member formed adjacent the
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`periphery of the flange of the spool. During unwinding, pull-
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`ing of the end of the elongate material causes the spool to
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`pivotin the direction of the pulling force and away from the
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`friction member. Oncethe pulling force is removed, the spool
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`pivots about the hub, backinto frictional engagement with the
`friction member.
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`33 Claims, 12 Drawing Sheets
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`Page 1 of 18
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`PPC Exhibit 1013
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`Page 1 of 18
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`PPC Exhibit 1013
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`US 7,938,357 B2
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`Page 2
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`JP
`WO
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`2001-120157
`5/2001
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`12/2009
`2009-143919
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`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`.
`.
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`Reel Options™ Vandor Corporation, EZ-Brake Boxed End Stands,
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`http://www.reeloptions.com/newsite/exbraketpagehtm,
`2
`pages
`(Mar. 15, 2010).
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`EP Search Report for EP Patent Application No. 10157546.2 dated
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`Jul. 20, 2010.
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`* cited by examiner
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`6/1997 Walsh wc eee 242/588.3
`5,634,610 A
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`5,904,329 A *
`5/1999 Kanomeetal.
`. 206/416
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`5,967,451 A
`10/1999 Radaios......
`. 242/594.2
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`6,145,780 A
`11/2000 Fontana. oo... 242/588.1
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`6,234,421 Bl
`5/2001 Coxet al.
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`6,523,777 B2
`912003) Gaudio oececcccccccccccc... 242/595.1
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`6,820,838 B2
`11/2004 Martin et al.
`. 242/588.1
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`7,124,674 B2
`10/2006 Maxey bevteneeees
`... 83/649
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`7,204,452 B2*
`4/2007 Wilkinsonetal. .
`. 242/614
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`7,341,220 B2*
`3/2008 Katayama oe 242/614
`2006/0273217 Al
`12/2006 Wilkinson
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`2007/0215502 Al
`9/2007 Babcock etal. wc. 206/409
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`Page 2 of 18
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`Page 2 of 18
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`U.S. Patent
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`May10, 2011
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`Sheet 1 of 12
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`US 7,938,357 B2
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`Page 3 of 18
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 3 of 12
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`FIG. 3
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`Page 5 of 18
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`U.S. Patent
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`May10, 2011
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`Sheet4 of 12
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`OG?8L\\4
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`yySZ AL.
`aae.Ne
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`FIG. 4
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`Page 6 of 18
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`U.S. Patent
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`May10, 2011
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`US 7,938,357 B2
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`Sheet 5 of 12
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`U.S. Patent
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`May
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`10, 2011
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`Sheet6 of 12
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`FIG. 5
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`Page 8 of 18
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`FIG. 6
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`Page 9 of 18
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`FIG. 6A
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`OG
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`FIG. 6B
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sheet 11 of 12
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`US 7,938,357 B2
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`US 7,938,357 B2
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`1
`DISPENSER FOR ELONGATE MATERIAL
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`FIELD OF THE DEVICE
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`The present device is for holding and dispensing elongate
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`material, such as cable or wire, from a spoolorreel.
`BACKGROUND
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`Various devices are knownfor holding and dispensingfiber
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`optic cable, wire and other types of elongate material.
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`Examplesof these devices include a container, such as a box,
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`with a spool or reel mounted inside. The elongate material is
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`wound on the spool and dispensed by rotation of the spool
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`within the container. In such devices, the spool rotates while
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`the outer container and the support for the spool remain
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`stationary.
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`In some previous dispensers, the user draws off elongate
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`material from the spool by pulling on the free end of the
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`material. Whenthe userstops pulling, the spool may continue
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`to rotate due to the angular momentum ofthe rotating spool
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`and material and continue to dispense material from the
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`spool. This “overrunning” of the spool may cause the elon-
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`gate material to become trapped between the spool and the
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`container,
`to become tangled with itself or to become
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`wrapped aroundthe spoolor its internal supports, creating a
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`material jam. In addition, the overrunning of the spool may
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`result in damage, such as a twist or a kink, to the wire or cable
`material.
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`USS. Pat. No. 7,204,452 discloses a dispenser for elongate
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`material having a support for a spool, with at least one ring on
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`the support encircling the flange of the spool. Meansis pro-
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`vided within the ring to create frictional contact with the
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`flange. Thereis no frictional variation whenthe pulling force
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`on the elongate material is discontinued. This commonly
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`assigned patent is herein incorporated by reference.
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`SUMMARY
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`pulling force on the elongate material causes the spool to
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`pivot forward on the hub. In this second position, the spoolis
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`free to rotate. A second contact point is preferably provided
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`by the hub to limit the amountof pivot during the dispensing
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`pull so that the spool pivots only a short distance away from
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`Further features and advantages will be become apparent
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`by a review ofthe detailed description and the claims.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`For illustration purposes, there are shown in the drawings
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`various forms that are presently preferred. It being under-
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`stood, however, that the contemplated device is notlimited to
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`the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
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`FIG.1 is a perspective view of a dispensing device includ-
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`ing a surrounding container, shown in phantom.
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`FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an endplate portion of the
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`dispensing device of FIG. 1.
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`FIG. 3 showsa side elevation of the end plate of FIG. 2.
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`FIG. 4 showsa partial side elevation of the engagement
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`between the end plate and a spool in a normalrest position of
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`the dispenser.
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`FIG.4A is an enlarged partial view showing the position-
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`ing of the bore of the spool positioned on the hub of the end
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`plate as seen in therest position of FIG. 4.
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`FIG. 5 showsa partial side elevation of the engagement
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`between a spool and the endplate in a second or unwinding
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`position.
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`FIG. 5A is an enlarged partial view showing the position-
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`ing ofthe bore ofthe spool positioned on the hub as seen in the
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`unwinding position of FIG.5.
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`FIG.6 is a perspective view of an alternate form for the hub
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`portion of the endplate.
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`FIG.6A is an enlarged partial view showingthe position-
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`ing of the bore of the spool on the alternated hub of FIG.6 as
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`seen in the rest position.
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`FIG.6B is an enlargedpartial view of the bore of the spool
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`positioned on the hub of FIG. 6 as seen in the unwinding
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`position.
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`FIG.7 is a perspective view ofa still further alternate form
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`for the hub portion of the endplate.
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`FIG.7A is an enlarged partial view showing the position-
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`ing of the bore of the spool on the alternated hub of FIG.7 as
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`seen in the rest position.
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`FIG.7B is an enlarged partial view ofthe bore of the spool
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`positioned on the hub of FIG. 7 as seen in the unwinding
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`position.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`A dispensing device is provided for dispensing elongate
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`material (such as wire, cable or the like) from a rotationally
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`mounted spool. The spooltypically includes a central barrel
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`and one or more flanges positioned at the ends ofthe barrel,
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`extending radially outward therefrom. An endplate is pro-
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`vided for rotationally supporting the spool. The end plate
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`includes a planar portion having a radial dimension that is
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`greater than the flange of the spool. A support hub extends
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`outwardly from the planar memberandfits within the bore of
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`the spool. The spool is rotatably mounted on the hub of the
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`planar member. The support hub is formed to permit pivoting
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`of the spool during unwinding of the elongate material. A
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`In the drawings, where like elementsare identified by like
`friction memberor brake is supported on the planar member
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`numerals, there is shown an embodimentof a dispenser for
`and positioned radially outward of the support hub. The
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`storing and dispensing elongate material, such as wire, fiber
`flange of the spool normally engagesthe friction member.
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`optic cable or the like. The dispenseris generally identified by
`During unwinding bypulling the end ofthe elongate material,
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`the numeral 10 and,as illustrated, comprises a container or
`the spool pivots on the hub and disengagesthe flange from the
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`box 12 (shownin phantom), a pairofside or end plates 14 and
`friction memberto permit free rotation of the spool aboutits
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`a spoolorreel 16 retaining an quantity ofelongate material 18
`axis. Upon discontinuation of the pulling force, the spool
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`wound thereon (see FIGS. 4 and 5).
`pivots back to its normal position in contact with the friction
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`member.
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`As moreparticularly illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the end
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`plates 14 (only one endplate being shown) comprise a planar
`The spool is dynamically positioned on the support hub to
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`formafirst or radially offset position, wherein the flange portion 20, a support hub 22 anda friction memberor brake
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`frictionally engages the friction member. The support hub
`24. The opposite side end plate 14 (as shown in FIG.1) is
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`preferably creates a point of contact on the spoolthatis offset
`preferably to be identicalto the endplate hereafter described,
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`or behind the center of gravity of the spool. Because of the
`with its structures positioned in mirror images. The planar
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`offset contact point, the spool normally pivots about the sup-
`portion 20 includes a body portion having a peripheral rim
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`port hub back into contact with the friction member. The
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`US 7,938,357 B2
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`portion 20 includes considerable open space to reduce the
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`weightof the plate 14 and maintainsrigidity by the form of
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`the struts. The support hub 22 is positioned substantially in
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`the center of the plate 14 and projects outwardly from the
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`planar portion 20. In the dispenser 10 (FIG.1), two endplates
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`14 are positioned with their respective support hubs 22 pro-
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`jecting inwardly on oppositesides of the spool 16. The spool
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`16 is provided with a preferably circular opening (see FIGS.
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`4 and 5) on each endofthe barrel andis rotationally supported
`on the hubs 22.
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`A friction memberor brake 24 is provided radially outward
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`of the support hub 22 on the planar portion 20. The friction
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`member24is positioned at a distance from the center of the
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`hub 22 at about the radial dimension ofthe flange portion of
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`the spool 16. The profile of the engagement surface on the
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`friction member 24 conformsto the curve ofthe flange on the
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`spool 16.
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`As shownin FIG.3, the support hub 22 is non-circular in
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`shape and formsan excentric axle for the spool 16. The hub 22
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`includesa first surface 26 which is positioned behind (in the
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`direction of the dispensing pull of the elongate material) the
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`center line 28 ofthe hub 22. A secondsurface 30 is positioned
`forward of the center line 28 and faces the front of the end
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`plate 14. Thefirst surface 26 positioned behind the centerline
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`28 has a larger radius of curvature andis, thus, relatively
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`steeper than the front surface 30. The friction member 24 is
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`positioned behindthe centerline 28 and below the position of
`the hub 22.
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`As moreparticularly illustrated in FIG. 4A, the non-circu-
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`lar form ofthe hub 22 creates a dynamic support for the spool
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`16. A pivot point 23 is formedat the top of the hub 22. The
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`center of gravity of the spool 16 sitting on the hub 22 is
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`positioned forward of the pivot point 23 of the hub 22. The
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`weight of the spool 16 on the hub 22is offset from the pivot
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`point of the hub 22 and will normally cause the spool 16 to
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`pivot counter-clockwise (FIG. 3) about the hub 22. This piv-
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`oting motion causesthe flange of the spool 16 to moverear-
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`ward and to engage the friction member24 (FIG.4).
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`As shown in FIG. 5, when a pulling force 32 is applied to
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`the end ofthe elongate material 18, in the direction ofthe front
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`of the end plate 14, the spool 16 pivots forward on the hub 22
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`and the flange moves away from the friction member 24. As
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`moreparticularly shown in FIG. 5A,the pulling force moves
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`the spool forward with the bore of the spool moving toward
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`the first surface 26 of the support hub 22. Because of the
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`steepness ofthefirst surface 26, the spool 16 pivots towards
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`the frontof the end plate 14 a sufficient distance to disengage
`from the friction member24.
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`The dynamic motion of the spool 16 on the hub 22 is
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`illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIGS. 4 and 4A,the spool 16
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`is shown in its normal position without a pulling force
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`applied. Once the pulling force is removed, the center of
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`gravity of the spool 16 attempts to reach equilibrium by
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`pivoting the spoolto the rear of the center line 28 of the hub
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`22. This dynamic motion shifts the spool 16 rearward into a
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`radially offset position and causesthe flange ofthe spool 16 to
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`contact the friction member24 (FIG.4).
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`In FIG. 5, a pulling force is provided on the elongate
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`material 18 in the direction ofthe front 32 of the end plate 14.
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`The pulling force 32 causes the spool 16 to rotate on the hub
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`22, such that the center of gravity of the spool 16 is now
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`further forward of the pivot point 23. This pivoting of the
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`spool 16 movesthe flange away from the friction member 24
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`and the inside surface ofthe opening in the center ofthe spool
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`16 is brought into contact with the first surface 26 of the hub
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`22. In the secondor dispensing position, the spool 16 is free
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`to rotate about the hub 22, sincethefrictional contact between
`Page 16 of 18
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`the flange andthe friction member 24 has been removed.In
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`the secondposition, the elongate material 18 is pulled off the
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`rotating spool 16. Once the pulling force 32 on the elongate
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`material 18 is removed, the center of gravity of the spool 16
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`causes the spool 16 to pivot back on the hub 22 and the spool
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`16 returnsto the position of FIG.4 with theflange ofthe spool
`16 in contact with the friction member 24.
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`In operation, there is a momentum created by rotation of
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`the spool 16 during the pulling ofthe elongate material 18 off
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`the spool 16. The angular momentum results in the spool 16
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`desiring to continue to rotate after the pulling force on the
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`elongate material 18 is discontinued. However, when the
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`pulling force is removed, the dynamic movementofthe spool
`16 back into contact with the friction member 24 causes
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`sufficient friction to stop spoolrotation and,thus, prevents the
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`overrunning. The friction member or brake is positioned
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`below and behind the support hub. This relative positioning
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`permits the gravitational forces acting on the spool to pivot
`rearward andto create the contact between the friction mem-
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`ber andthe flange of the spool. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a
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`second brake 34 is positioned above the support hub 24. This
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`second brake 34 is providedso that a single end plate 14 may
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`serve as the opposite side supports for the spool 16 as shown
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`in FIG. 1. Each end plate 14 as illustrated is substantially
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`symmetrical about its horizontal center line. When the two
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`plates are positioned on opposite sides of the spool, the rela-
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`tively lower brake on each plate engages the respective flange
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`of the spool. The relatively upper brake 34 on the plate 14
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`servesthis universal molding function, but does not normally
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`engagethe flange or normally otherwise function to prevent
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`overrunning ofthe spool.
`In FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown alternate forms of the hub
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`for supporting the spool for rotation thereon. In FIG. 6, a
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`single rib 122 for the hub portion for the bore of the spool. As
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`an alternative, multiple ribs of varying size may similarly
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`support the spool and allow for rotation and the pivoting
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`movementinto contact with the brake. The rib 122is prefer-
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`ably vertically positioned, having a top edge and a bottom
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`edge. The rib 122 is shownto be substantially straight and
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`vertically oriented. However, the rib 122 may be curved or be
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`angled as desired. As shownin FIG.6A,the bore of the spool
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`is positioned on the rib 122 andinthe rest position balanced
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`on the top edge 123. As shown, the spool moves backwards,
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`such that the rim of the flange contacts the brake 24, in the
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`same manneras that shown in FIG.4. As shown in FIG.6B,
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`oncethe pulling force 32 is applied to the elongate material 18
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`wrapped aroundthe hubof the spool, the bore repositions on
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`the hub plate 122, moving the entire spool forward, away
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`from the brake. The top edge 123 and bottom edge 126 are in
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`contact with the inside surface of the bore. In this unwinding
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`position, the rim ofthe flange of the spool is positioned away
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`from the brake as in FIG. 5. Once the pulling force 32 on the
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`elongate material is removed, the spoolseeksto finda balance
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`position, moving rearward back into contact with the brake
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`(FIG.4).
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`As shownin FIG.7, the hub 222 is formed by twopins 223,
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`226 projecting out of the plane of an end plate. The top pin
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`223 serves as the vertical support for the spool similar to the
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`top edge 23 of the hub 22 of FIGS. 1-5 or the top edge 123 of
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`the plate 122 of FIGS. 6-6B. The second or lower pin 226 is
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`preferably positioned directly below the first pin 223 so that
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`the end plate may be used on both sides of the dispenser and
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`spool. A third pin may also be provided behindthe vertical
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`line between the first and second pins, so as to contact the
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`inner surface of the bore of the spool during dispensing,
`similar to hub surface 26 in the embodimentof FIGS. 1-5. In
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`FIG.7A, the spoolis in the rest position, with the top-most
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`5
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`surface of the bore positioned on the first pin 223. The
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`dynamic motionof the spool on the hub 222 placesthe rim of
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`the flange in contact with the brake surface as shown in FIG.
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`4. InFIG. 7B,the bore ofthe spool moves forward in response
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`to a pulling force 32 on the elongate material 18 wound on the
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`hub of the spool. The second pin 226 prevents the spool from
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`rotating too far aboutthefirst pin 223 when a pulling force 32
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`is provided. Excessive forward movement may cause the
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`spool to contact the inner surfaces of the box or at the very
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`least require the end plate to be larger than is otherwise
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`necessary. The dynamic motion ofthe spool in responseto the
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`pulling force 32 in the unwinding condition movesthe rim of
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`the flange ofthe spool away from the contact position with the
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`brake, as shown in FIG.5. A release ofthe pulling force 32 on
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`the elongate material results in the spool moving backward
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`and placing the rim of the flange into contact with the brake
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`(FIG. 4).
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`As shown, two flanges are provided on the spool with an
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`end plate positioned to support each end of the spool. Varia-
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`tions ofthis structure are possible. For example, a single plate
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`may be provided to support a spool and/or the spool may
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`include only one flange. Other variations of the structures
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`mayalso be possible. It will be appreciated by those skilled in
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`the art that the present invention may be practiced in various
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`alternative forms and configurations. The previously detailed
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`description of the disclosed embodiment is presented for
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`purposesof clarity and understanding and does not necessar-
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`ily limit the scope of the invention.
`The invention claimedis:
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`1. A dispensing device comprising:
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`a spool comprising
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`a central barrel having an axial opening in each end, and
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`apair of flanges positioned at opposite endsofthe barrel
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`and extending radially outward therefrom;
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`a length of elongate material wound on the barrel and
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`betweenthe flanges, an end portion ofthe elongate mate-
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`rial exposed for initiating unwinding of the material
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`from the spool; and
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`first and second endplates, the end plates positioned in a
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`parallel and spacedrelationship, the end plates compris-
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`ing
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`a planar portion having a peripheral dimension greater
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`than the radial extension ofthe flanges of the spool,
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`a support extending from the planarportion, one end of
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`the spool rotationally mounted on the support and
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`permitting a pivoting motion of the spool about the
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`support, the support normally supporting the spool in
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`a radially offset position, and
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`a friction membersupported on the planar memberradi-
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`ally outwardly of the support, the periphery of the
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`flange engaging the friction memberin the normal,
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`radially offset position,
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`wherein during unwindingof the elongate material wound
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`on the spool by pulling the end portion of the elongate
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`material and causing a rotation of the spool about the
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`support, the spool pivots on the support in the direction
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`of the pulling of the elongate material and disengages
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`from the friction memberto permit free rotation about
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`the support and,
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`whenthe pulling force is removed, the spool pivots back
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`into theradially offset position in frictional contact with
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`the friction memberstopping byfriction the rotation of
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`the spool.
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`2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a box
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`enclosing the spool andthefirst and second endplates.
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`3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the friction memberis
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`in the form of a curved braking surface.
`Page 17 of 18
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`US 7,938,357 B2
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`6
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`4. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinthe friction memberis
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`formed onthe planarportion ofthe plates at a position rela-
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`tively below the centerline of the support.
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`5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the plates are identi-
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`cally formed, each having a second friction memberposi-
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`tioned relatively above the centerline of the support when
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`positioned on opposite sides of the spool.
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`6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the planar portion
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`includesa peripheral rim anda seriesofstruts.
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`7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support includes an
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`asymmetric hub.
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`8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support includes a
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`vertical plate.
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`9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support includes a
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`pair of vertically aligned pins.
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`10. An apparatus comprising:
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`a spool assembly havingfirst and secondflanges, the spool
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`assembly adapted to support and dispense an elongate
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`material wound thereon,
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`first and second endplates positioned on opposite sides of
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`the spool, adjacent the first and second flanges,
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`a support positioned on at least one of the end plates, the
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`support dynamically supporting a respective end of the
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`spool assembly to allow rotation of the spool assembly
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`and to allow for pivoting of the spool assembly on the
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`support betweena rest position and an unwinding posi-
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`tion to allow for unwindingofthe elongate material, and
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`a brake for frictionally engagingat least one of the flanges
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`of the spool assembly,
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`wherein the spool is in engagement with the brake in the
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`rest position and rotating on the support in the unwind-
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`ing position out of engagementwith the brake.
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`11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a box
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`enclosing the spool assembly andthe first and second end
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`12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein thefriction member
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`is formed on the planarportion of the end plates at a position
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`relatively below the dynamic support.
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`13. The apparatus ofclaim 10 wherein the dynamic support
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`is inthe form ofan asymmetrical hub having an offset pivot on
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`its upper surface.
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`14. The apparatus ofclaim 10 wherein the dynamic support
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`is in the form ofa verticalplate.
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`15. The apparatus ofclaim 10 wherein the dynamic support
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`is comprises a pair of substantially vertically aligned pins.
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`16. An endplate for rotationally supportin