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`United States Patent
`(12)
`US 7,204,452 B2
`(10) Patent No.:
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`Wilkinsonet al.
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Apr. 17, 2007
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`US007204452B2
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`9/1972 Holmes
`3,693,784 A
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`2/1974 Godderidge ............... 242/128
`3,791,119 A *
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`Inventors: James Wilkinson, East Greenbush, NY
`8/1976 Kovaleski
`.............00.00. 242/128
`3,972,489 A *
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`(US); Fedor Baranov, East Greenbush,
`9/1978 Montaruli
`4,111,089 A
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`NY (US)
`3/1979 Rankin, Jr.
`4,142,694 A
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`3/1981 O’Connoret al.
`4,253,570 A
`.......... 206/391
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`(73) Assignee: Sonoco Development, Ine., Hartsville
`9/1988 Baueretal2425883
`4771889 A *
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`SC (US)
`2/1990 Beery
`4,903,833 A
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`11/1992 Heydaetal. wu... 206/400
`5,165,543 A
`a
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`(*) Notice:—Subject to any disclaimer, the term ofthis 5,474,254 A 12/1995 Faulkner ........ 242/614
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`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`5,529,186 A
`6/1996 Bass...
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`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`5,897,075 A *
`4/1999 Elder et al. eee 242/614
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`5,967,451 A
`10/1999 Radaios
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`6,003,667 A
`12/1999 Barnett et al. ese 206/396
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`6,145,780 A
`11/2000 Fontana.........
`242/588.1
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`2002/0125161 AL
`9/2002 Cote ..........
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`2003/0080011 Al
`5/2003 You et al. wo... eee 206/397
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`2003/0098253 Al
`5/2003 You et al. wo... eee 206/408
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`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`Prior Publication Data
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`US 2006/0273217 Al
`Dec. 7, 2006
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`(54) DISPENSER FOR ELONGATE MATERIAL
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`(75)
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`(21) Appl. No.: 11/146,602
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`Filed:
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`Jun. 7, 2005
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`(22)
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`(65)
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`(56)
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`(51)
`Int. Cl.
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`(2006.01)
`BOSH 75/12
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`(52) US. Ch occ 242/614; 242/396.6; 242/611.1
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`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 242/614,
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`242/614.1, 608, 611, 611.1, 601, 396.6, 396.7,
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`242/396.8, 588, 588.3, 588.6, 422.4, 598.5,
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`242/598.6, 397, 398, 566, 615, 128, 129,
`242/597.3
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`See application file for complete search history.
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`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`12/1896 Yeakel
`573,563 A
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`11/1923 Clark et al.
`1,474,580 A
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`1,783,339 A * 12/1930 Mitchell oe 242/128
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`2,647,704 A *
`8/1953 Samler et al... 242/128
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`3,122,113 A *
`2/1964 Edwards .........0.ccee 242/128
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`3/1998
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`0 826 618 Al
`EP
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`os
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`cited by examiner
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`Primary Examiner—William A. Rivera
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`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—DLA Piper US LLP
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`(57)
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`ABSTRACT
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`A dispenser for an elongate material is provided having a
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`support and a spool rotatably mounted in the support. The
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`includes a core and two ends extending radially
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`outward from the core. At least one ring on the support
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`encircles a respective end of the spool. In one embodiment,
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`the radial outside of each ring is provided with a formation
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`tapering towards the middle of the spool.
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`35 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
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`Page 1 of 8
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`PPC Exhibit 1014
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`Page 1 of 8
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`PPC Exhibit 1014
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 17, 2007
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`Sheet 1 of3
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`US 7,204,452 B2
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`Page 2 of 8
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`Page 2 of 8
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`Page 3 of 8
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`U.S. Patent
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`Apr. 17, 2007
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`Sheet 3 of3
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`US 7,204,452 B2
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`Page 4 of 8
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`Page 4 of 8
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`US 7,204,452 B2
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`1
`DISPENSER FOR ELONGATE MATERIAL
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`FIELD OF INVENTION
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`FIG.4 is a perspective view of a spool and two end frames
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`forming part of the dispenser as shown in FIG.2.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`In the drawings, where like elementsare identified by like
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`numerals, there is shown an embodiment of a container for
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`storing and dispensing elongate material, for example, elec-
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`trical or fiber optic cable. One form of container, identified
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`generally by the numeral 10, comprises a box 12. The box
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`12 may be made of any suitable reasonably rigid material.
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`The box 12 has a body with two ends 14. As shown in the
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`drawings, the ends of the box 14 are square.
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`Inside each end 14 of the box 12 is an end plate 16, best
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`seen in FIG. 3. Each end plate 16 has an outer frame 18 that
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`is dimensionedtofit snugly within the end 14 of the box 12.
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`In the center of the end plate 16 is a cylindrical or frusto-
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`conical arbor 20 extending towards the center of the box 12.
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`The arbor 20 is surrounded by a shoulder 22.
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`The end plate 16 also bears a ring wall 24 which, as best
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`seen in FIG.3, is slightly smaller in diameter than the width
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`between opposite sides of the outer frame 18. The ring wall
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`24 is concentric with the arbor 20 and extends axially from
`the outer frame 18 towards the middle of the box 12. The
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`ring wall 24 has on its outer face 26 a numberoftriangular
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`ribs 28 that are widest where they meet the outer frame 18,
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`and taper to meetthe ring wall 24 close to the edge 30 of the
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`wall nearest the middle of the box. The outer edges of the
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`triangularribs 28 effectively define an imaginary frustoconi-
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`invention provides a
`One embodiment of the present
`On the inside face 32 of the ring wall 24 are ribs 34. The
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`dispenser for elongate material, comprising a support, a
`ribs 34 are sufficiently thin that they will flex readily in use,
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`spool rotatably mounted in the support, the spool having a
`as explained below. The ribs 34 extend substantially axially
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`core and two ends extending radially outward from the core,
`over the full width of the wall 24. The axially inner ends of
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`and at least one ring on the support, encircling a respective
`the ribs 34, near the edge 30 of the wall 24, may be rounded
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`end of the core, the radial outside of the at least one ring
`or chamfered. The axially outer ends of the ribs 34 are not
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`being provided with a formation tapering towards the middle
`joined to the outer frame 18. As shown in FIG.3, the outer
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`of the spool.
`frame 18 consists of bars 36 with large gaps 38 between
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`Another embodiment of the present invention provides a
`them. The ribs 34 are positioned over the gaps, evenly
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`dispenser for elongate material, comprising a holder, a spool
`spaced along the wall 24. Ribs 34 that would merge into the
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`rotatably mountedin the holder, the spool having a core and
`bars forming the frame 18 are omitted.
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`two ends extending radially outward from the core, at least
`Between the two end plates 16 is a spool 40. The spool 40
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`one ring on the holder, encircling a respective end of the
`has a cylindrical core 42 that fits over the arbors 20 and
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`core, and a plurality of friction ribs extending between the
`between the shoulders 22 with a sufficient play to allow the
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`at least one said ring and the respective end of the core.
`spool 40 to rotate freely, while remaining in position
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`Another embodimentof the present invention provides an
`between the end plates 16. The end plates 16 do notrotate.
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`end plate for a dispenser for elongate material, comprising
`At each endof the core 42 is an end 44 comprisingaradially
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`a central support to rotatably mountan endof a spool on one
`extending end wall 46. The end walls 46 may be substan-
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`side of the end plate, a ring having a generally cylindrical
`tially flat or may diverge radially outwardly, and are smooth
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`inside surface concentric with the support, a plurality of
`on their sides facing the middle of the spool 40. The radially
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`guide ribs on the outside of the ring tapering towards said
`outer rims of the ends 44 comprise generally cylindrical
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`one side of the end plate, and a plurality of flexible friction
`skirts 48 that face the ring walls 24 on the end plates 16. The
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`ribs extending axially from the inside of said ring.
`diameter of the skirts 48 is such thattheflexible ribs 34 press
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`lightly against the skirts 48, as will be explained below. As
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`shown in FIG. 4,
`the sides of the end walls 46 facing
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`outwards may havestiffening ribs or other structures within
`the skirts 48.
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`As shown in FIG.2, the join between the skirt 48 of each
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`spool end 44 and the end wall 46 is slightly closer to the
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`middle of the box 12 than is the inner edge 30 of the wall 24.
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`The exposed length of the skirt 48 may be sufficient that the
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`axial play of the spool 40 between the shoulders 22 does not
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`result in the ring wall 24 overhanging the end walls 46 of the
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`spool. The exposed length of the skirt 48 may be tapered or
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`rounded to merge smoothly into the end walls 46.
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`In use, a length of elongate material 50, which maybe, for
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`example, electrical wire or cable or fiber optic cable,
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`The present invention relates to a device for holding
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`and/or dispensing elongate materials, such as wire, from a
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`spool or the like.
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`BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
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`Various devices are known for holding and dispensing
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`cable and other elongate material. Some of these devices
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`comprise a container with a spool mounted inside the
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`container. The cable or other elongate material is wound on
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`the spool. When material is to be dispensed from the spool,
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`the spool is intended to rotate while the outer container
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`remains stationary. With some previously proposed dispens-
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`ers, the user draws off material from the spool by pulling on
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`a free end of the material. When the user stops pulling, the
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`20
`spool may continue to rotate because of the angular momen-
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`tum of the rotating spool of material, especially when the
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`material is heavy, such as metal wire or fiber optic cable.
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`This can result in the outer turns of wire on the spool
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`becoming slack, and becoming trapped between the spool
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`and the container and/or wrapped round supports for the
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`spoolinside the container, so that the material jams next time
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`the user attempts to draw some off.
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`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, there are
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`shown in the drawings various forms which are presently
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`disclosed; it being understood, however, that this invention
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`is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumen-
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`talities particularly shown.
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`FIG. 1 is an axial section through an embodimentof a
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`dispenser as contemplated by the invention.
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`FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the detail 2 of FIG. 1, an
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`outer box being omitted for clarity.
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`FIG.3 is a perspective view of an end frame forming part
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`of the dispenser shown in FIG.1.
`Page 5 of 8
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`US 7,204,452 B2
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`wound in a coil round the core 42 of the spool 40, between
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`the end walls 46. A free end of the elongate material is led
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`off from the outer surface of the coil generally tangentially,
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`and is fed out through a hole or slot 52 in the box 12. When
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`a user wants a length of the elongate material, the user pulls
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`on the free end, and draws the material off through the slot
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`52. The spool 40 and the coil of material 50 rotate. The
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`arbors 20 inside the ends of the core 42 act as plain bearings,
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`supporting and guiding the spool 40 while permitting the
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`spool to rotate. Especially if the user pulls the free end
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`rapidly,
`the spool 40 can acquire a substantial angular
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`velocity. Especially if the material 50 is heavy, for example,
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`cable, the spool 40 can acquire a substantial angular momen-
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`Although specific embodiments have been described,
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`various modifications may be made without departing from
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`the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the
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`appended claims. For example, depending on the size of the
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`spool 50, the box 12 may be made of cardboard. The box can
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`alternatively be made from another substantially rigid mate-
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`rial, for example, layered paper stock or plastic. The spool
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`40 and the end plates 16 have been shown in the drawings
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`as being made of molded plastic. The spool and the end
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`plates can alternatively be madeof another suitable material,
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`or can be fabricated from components, which may be of
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`different materials. It is not necessary for the box ends 14
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`and the end plates 16 to be distinct components.
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`The dispenser 10 has been shown with an endplate at
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`each end, each end plate having an arbor 20 and a ring wall
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`24, each ring wall 24 having triangular ribs 28 and having
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`friction ribs 34 bearing on the skirt 48 of the spool 40.
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`However, arrangements are possible in which someof those
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`features are provided at only one end. In particular, in a
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`dispenser intended to be used with the axis of the spool 40
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`vertical, and with a definite top and bottom, the material 50
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`might consistently drop to the bottom end. The triangular
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`ribs 28 might then be wanted only at the bottom end. The
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`ring wall 24 andfriction ribs 34 might then be wanted only
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`at the bottom for the purpose of preventing the elongate
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`material from jamming between the spool 40 and the end
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`plate 16, but might be wanted at the top fortheir frictional
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`action. The top arbor 20 mightstill be wantedto stabilize the
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`spool 40, and the top end plate 16 mightstill be wanted as
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`a mounting for the top arbor 20 even if the top ring wall 24
`was omitted.
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`The shapesandsizes of the various components may vary
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`depending on the materials used for the container, on the size
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`of the container, and on the properties of the elongate
`material 50 with which the containeris intended to be used.
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`For example, if components are described as straight or
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`cylindrical, and are made of moldedplastic, those compo-
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`nents may in practice be tapered by several degrees for
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`easier demolding.
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`As shown in FIG.2, the outer edges ofthe triangular ribs
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`28 effectively define an imaginary frustoconical surface with
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`a conehalf angle of about 300.It is not necessary for the ribs
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`to be triangular, defining a frustoconical
`surface. For
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`example,
`the outer edges of the ribs could be concave,
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`defining an imaginary surface that fans outlike the bell of a
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`trumpet. The angle of taper, or the minimum angle of taper,
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`is then selected to be sufficient to guide the elongate material
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`50 off the ribs and back into the spool 40. An appropriate
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`numerical value for the minimum angle of taper depends on
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`the size of the container 12 and the properties of the material
`50.
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`As shown in FIG.2, there is a short width 60 of the wall
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`24 between the ends of the ribs 28 and the edge 30 of the
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`wall. It is not necessary for there to be such a width 60 of
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`wall with no ribs. The sloping edgesof the ribs 28 may meet
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`the edge 30 of the wall exactly, or the ribs 28 may have a
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`residual height at their narrow ends. If there is a width 60 of
`wall with no ribs between the ends of the ribs 28 and the
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`edge 30 of the wall 24, that width 60 should be narrow
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`enough that the material woundonthe spool does not lodge
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`stably thereon.
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`It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that the
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`present
`invention may be practiced in various alternate
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`forms and configurations. The previously detailed descrip-
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`tion of the disclosed embodiments is presented for purposes
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`of clarity of understanding only, and no unnecessary limi-
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`tations should be implied therefrom.
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`length of
`When the user has drawn off a sufficient
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`material, the user may abruptly ceaseto pull on the free end,
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`and may hold the free end to prevent more material from
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`feeding off the coil. However, the spool 40 tends to continue
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`to rotate, because of its acquired angular momentum. As a
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`result, the outermost turns of the coil of material 50 may
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`become expanded, and maynot remain in place on the spool.
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`In the container 10 shown in the drawings, the flexible
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`ribs 34, which are fixed to the ring walls 24 and thus to the
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`end plates 16, press lightly on the skirts 48 of the spool ends
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`44. The stiffness of the flexible ribs 34, the diameter of the
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`skirts 48 and the diameter, when the flexible ribs 34 are
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`unstressed, of the space between the ribs, are selected in
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`combination with the material of the spool andthe endplates
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`to select the frictional drag on the spool 40. The frictional
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`drag is selected so that the user does not feel an excessive
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`resistance to drawing off the material 50, and the material 50
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`is not subjected to an unduetension, but so that the braking
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`action stops the rotation of the spool promptly when the user
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`ceases to pull on the free end of the material 50.
`If the outer turns of the coil of material 50 do become
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`expanded and displaced, the flexible ribs 34, which bridge
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`the gap between the rotatable spool ends 44 and the non-
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`rotatable ring walls 24, hinder the material 50 from entering
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`the gap and jamming the rotation. The triangular ribs 28
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`hinder the material 50 from becoming wound round the
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`outside of the ring walls 24, because the sloping or conical
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`shape defined by the ribs 28 encouragesthe material to slide
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`off the ribs, and back onto the spool 40, as soon as a tension
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`is applied to the free end of the material. If the elongate
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`material tends to catch on the exposedpart of the skirts 48,
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`any rounding or taper of these parts of the skirts may
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`encourage the material to slide off the spool ends 44 and
`back onto the main coil of the material 50.
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`To assemble the container 10, the spool 40 is manufac-
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`tured and, if necessary, assembled, and the material 50 is
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`wound onto the spool. The free outer end of the material may
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`be attached or secured temporarily to the outer end of the
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`coil. The end plates 16 may be attached to the insides of the
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`ends 14 of the box 12, for example, with adhesive, or by tabs
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`on the end plates 16 engagingslots in the box 12, or in any
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`other convenient way. Alternatively, the end plates 16 may
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`simply be a snug fit within the box 12.
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`The box 12, including the endplates 16, is then assembled
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`round the loaded spool 40, 50. Because of the friction ribs
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`34, the spool ends 44 are a force fit within the ring walls 24.
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`However, the rounded or chamfered ends ofthe ribs 34 assist
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`the spool ends 44 in deflecting the friction ribs 34 andfitting
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`between them. The assembled box 12 may have a top or
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`other flap that can be opened so that, when the material 50
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`is to be used, the free end can be retrieved and fed out
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`through the slot 52.
`Page 6 of 8
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`Page 6 of 8
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`US 7,204,452 B2
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`5
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`I claim:
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`1. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:
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`a support;
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`at least one end plate, the support fixed to the end plate;
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`a spool mounted on the support, the spool having a core
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`and two ends extending radially outward from the core;
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`at least one ring on the end plate, the at least one ring
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`encircling a respective end of the spool,
`the radial
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`outside of at least one said ring being provided with a
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`formation tapering from the end plate towards the core
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`of the spool.
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`2. A dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a
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`pair of end plates, a pair of supports anda pair of rings, each
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`ring encircling a respective end of the spool.
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`3. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said respec-
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`tive spool end hasat its periphery a skirt extending axially
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`away from the core of the spool and facing radially out-
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`wards, facing the relatively inner surface of the at least one
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`ring.
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`4. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said tapering
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`formation comprises a plurality of guide ribs on the rela-
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`tively outer surface outside of said at least one ring.
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`5. A dispenser according to claim 4, wherein the guideribs
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`are generally triangular.
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`6. A dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a
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`plurality of friction ribs extending betweenat least one said
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`ring and the respective end of the spool.
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`7. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein said friction
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`ribs are attached to said ring and press against a rim ofsaid
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`respective end of the spool.
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`8. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein the inside of
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`said ring is generally cylindrical, the outside of said rim is
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`generally cylindrical, and said ribs extend axially over the
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`inside of said ring.
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`9. A dispenser according to claim 6, wherein saidfiction,
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`ribs are flexible, are fixed to one of said ring and said core,
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`and press against the other of said ring and said core.
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`10. A dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the support
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`further comprises a pair of end plates each comprising a
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`support for said spool, at
`least one of said end plates
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`comprising a respective said ring with said support for said
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`spool at the center of said ring.
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`11. A dispenser according to claim 10, wherein each said
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`support for said spool comprises an arbor for an end of the
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`core of the spool.
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`12. A dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising
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`a box enclosing said spool.
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`13. A dispenser according to claim 12, further comprising
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`a pair of end plates within said box, each end plate com-
`50
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`prising a support for said spool, at least one of said end
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`plates comprising a respective said ring with said support for
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`said spool at the center of said ring.
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`14. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:
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`a holder;
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`a spool rotatably mountedin the holder, the spool having
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`a core and at least one end extending radially outward
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`from the core;
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`at least one ring on the holder, encircling a respective end
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`of the core; and
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`a plurality of friction ribs forming a frictional engagement
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`between said at least one ring and the respective end of
`the core.
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`15. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said at
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`least one ring comprises a pair of rings each encircling a
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`respective end of the spool.
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`16. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said at
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`least one spool end hasat its periphery a skirt extending
`Page 7 of 8
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`axially away from the middle of the spool andfacingradially
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`outwards, facing the respective said ring.
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`17. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said
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`friction ribs are attachedto said ring and press against a rim
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`of said respective end of the spool.
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`18. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the inside
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`of said ring is generally cylindrical, the outside of said rim
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`is generally cylindrical, and said ribs extend axially over the
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`inside of said ring.
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`19. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein said
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`friction ribs are flexible, are fixed to one ofsaid ring and said
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`spool, and press against the other of said ring and said spool.
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`20. A dispenser according to claim 14, wherein the holder
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`further comprises a pair of end plates, each comprising one
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`of said rings and each comprising a support for said spool at
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`the center of said ring.
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`21. A dispenser according to claim 20, wherein each said
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`support for said spool comprises an arbor for an end of the
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`core of the spool.
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`22. A dispenser according to claim 14, further comprising
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`a box enclosing said spool.
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`23. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:
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`a box;
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`a pair of end plates within the box, each comprising a ring
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`having a generally cylindrical inside surface and an
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`arbor at the center of said ring;
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`a spool rotatably mounted onsaid arbors, the spool having
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`a core and two ends extending radially outward from
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`the core, wherein each said spool end hasatits periph-
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`ery a skirt extending axially away from the middle of
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`the spool, said skirt having a generally cylindrical
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`outside surface facing the inside surface of the respec-
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`tive said ring;
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`a plurality of generally triangular guide ribs on the
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`outside. of each ring tapering towards the middle of the
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`spool; and
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`a plurality of flexible friction ribs extending axially on the
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`inside of said ring pressing against the skirt of said
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`respective spool end.
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`24. An end plate for a dispenser for elongate material,
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`comprising:
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`a central support to rotatably mount an end of a spool on
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`one side of the end plate;
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`a ring having a generally cylindrical inside surface con-
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`centric with the support;
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`a plurality of guide ribs on the outside ofthe ring tapering
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`towards said one side of the end plate; and
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`a plurality offlexible friction ribs extending axially from
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`the inside of said ring.
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`25. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:
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`a support;
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`a spool rotatably mountedin the support, the spool having
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`a core and two ends extending radially outward from
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`the core;
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`a pair of rings on the support, each ring encircling a
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`respective end of the spool, the radial outside ofat least
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`one of said rings being provided with a formation
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`tapering towards the middle of the spool.
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`26. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:
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`a support;
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`a spool rotatably mountedin the support, the spool having
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`a core and two ends extending radially outward from
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`the core;
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`at least one ring on the support, encircling a respective
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`end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one said
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`ring being provided with a formation tapering towards
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`the middle of the spool; and
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`Page 7 of 8
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`7
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`its periphery a skirt
`said respective spool end has at
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`extending axially away from the middle of the spool
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`and facing radially outwards, facing the said at least
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`one ring.
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`27. A dispenser for elongate material, comprising:
`
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`a support;
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`a spool rotatably mounted in the support, the spool having
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`a core and two ends extending radially outward from
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`the core;
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`at least one ring on the support, encircling a respective
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`end of the spool, the radial outside of at least one said
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`ring being provided with a formation tapering towards
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`the middle of the spool, said tapering formation com-
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`prises a plurality of guide ribs on the outside of said at
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`least one ring.
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