US3027003A - Cable reel carton device - Google Patents

Description

March 27, 1962 s. COLE ETAL CABLE REEL CARTON DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6, 1959 .W PMW A |NVENTORS STEPHEN COLE LAWRENCE A. M9GINN ATTORNEYS.

March 27, 1962 S. COLE ETAL CABLE REEL CARTON DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS STEPHE N C OLE LAWRENCE A. M GlNN \L ATTORNEYS.

March 27, 1962 s. COLE ETAL 3,027,003

CABLE REEL CARTON DEVICE Filed Nov. 6, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet a NVENTORS 3 STEPHEN COLE LAWRENCE A.M G|NN BY-WVA.

' ATTORNEYS.

'is to be used.

nited States ate-t 3,27,@fl3 Patented Mar. 27, 1362 3,027,003 CABLE REEL CARTON DEVICE Stephen Cole, Brockville, Ontario, and Lawrence A. Mc-

This invention relates to a container for a coil of wire, cable or the like usable, both as a shipping box and a dispenser.

Conventional containers of this kind fall generally into three types. In one type, the interior of the container is equipped with a central core which extends between and is fixedly connected to opposite sides of the container. Wire is coiled about this central core and the box is closed for shipping. In order to use this type of container as a dispenser, all portions of the box, except the sides to which the core isconnected, are removed and a type of reel structure is obtained. The reel structure so formed may then be equipped with an axle for free rotation thereabout in order to dispense the wire. Such a container has the disadvantage'that a member suitable as an axle and a member which will act as an axle mounting must be found at the place where wire In practice it is often difficult to locate such suitable equipment.

In a second type of dispensing unit, a separate reel wire is enclosed within a container. In operation, a suitable aperture is formed in one side of the container through which wire may be dispensed but again the user must find an axle to support the reel for rotation thereabout before wire can be dispensed; Thus it will be seen that the disadvantages of the previously mentioned type of container are encountered in part in that a separate axle is required to be found at the scene of operations.

In a third type of dispensing unit, a separate reel of cable is enclosed in a container in which a cable dispensing aperture is provided. In operation no axle or axle mounting is required, as the reel is allowed to roll about its rim within the container as cable is withdrawn from it and throughtheaperture. In such a container, cable dispensing is often made difiicult due to binding caused by the friction between the reel and the sides of the container. Such containers need to-be firmly secured to permit the user to exert --astrong pulling force on the cable whereby to overcome the binding between the reel and the container to a degree where dispensing is made possible.

I have found these disadvantages may be overcome by providing a container adapted to receive a reel of wire, cable or the like, said container having square up-right end walls spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the axial length of the reel of wire, transversely disposed side walls connecting said end walls, and stub axial members extending inwardly from each end Wall, normal thereto and centrally thereof and capable of supporting the reel of wire thereon for rotation about its longitudinal axis. Such a container provides -a suitable box for shipping purposes and when the wire is required for use, an aperture may be formed in one side of the container and the wire dispensed from the reel which is supported for rotation on the stub axles forming a part of the container. Such a container requires the use of no independent parts when the wire is required for use since the axles and axle-mountings form a part of the container, and since the reel rotates freely, the wire is dispensed easily and quickly without binding or other impediment which would make the wire difficult to dispense.

The following is a description by way of example of one embodiment of the invention reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial representation of the container partly broken away to show its interior,

FIGURE 2 is a pictorial representation of the container showing the cable dispensing aperture,

FIGURE 3 is a pictorial representation of the container showing the fastening tab,

FIGURE 4 is a pictorial representation of the conftainer showing the formation of one end wall, and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of one end wall showing the method of atfixing one stub axle thereto.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, a container is shown as having square upright end walls A and B (FIGURES 'l and 2) connected by four transversely extending side walls 1, 2, 3 and 4. Afiixed centrally of each end wall of the container are stub axle members 5. The stub axle members consist of a fiat base portion 6 which bears against the end wall of the container and a cylindrical dowel member 7 normal to the fiat base portion 6 and extending inwardly of the container. The stub axle member may b o-constructed of any suitable material having sufficient strength to support a standard reel of wire, cable or the like, for example a wooden dowel fastened to a plywood base; the dowel member and base member may be either formed integrally or in two sections connected together by any suitable means. When the container is loaded with a standard reel of wire, cable or the like as shown inFIGURE 1 the reel 8 is seated on the stub axle members for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The reel 8 generally comprises two end flanges 9 and a central core 10 disposed between the end flanges and about which wire may be wound. The central core 10 has a central axial bore 11 adapted to loosely receive the dowel member 7 of the stub axle member 5. For the sake of clarity only an empty spool is depicted in FIGURE 1, but in operation wire is wound about 'central core 10 and is held in place by the end flanges 9.

g The container may be constructed in any conventional manner, for example by stamping the outline of the container on a single sheet of material, appropriately folding the material, and connecting the mating free edges to form a box-like structure with open ends similar to that shown in FIGURE 4.

The construction of the end walls is illustrated in FIG- URES 4 and 5. Although only the construction of end wall A is shown in the drawings it is to be understood that the construction of both end walls may be identical so one only need be described. Extensions in the form of square flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18 are foldably connected to each end of side walls 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively at fold lines 19, 20, 21 and 22 respectively. Flap 15 is provided with an aperture 23 located centrally thereof and of such size and shape as to snugly receive dowel member 7 of stub axle member 5. Flaps 17 and 18 are provided with identical corresponding apertures 24 centrally thereof, of such size and shape as to snugly receive the base portion 6 of the stub axle member 5. The remaining flap 16 is of solid construction with no aperture therein.

In order to insert a standard reel of wire in the container one possible sequence of steps will be described as exemplary only. First, one end of the container is closed as follows. Flap 15 is folded upwardly to completely close an open end of the container, the dowel member 7 of the stub axle member is inserted through the aperture 23 so that the dowel member extends inwardly of the container and the flat base portion 6 abuts against the outer surface of flap 15. Flaps 17 and 18 are then folded in overlapping relation such that the a apertures in the said flaps receive the flat base portion 6 of the stub axle assembly as can be seen from FIGURE the sequence in which flaps 17 and 18 are folded is of no importance. Flap 16 is then folded down to completely cover the end of the container and hold the stub axle securely in place. The four thicknesses of material forming the end wall may then be connected by a suitable means for example stapling or by an adhesive connection. When one end of the container is so formed the box may be stood on the closed end and the reel of wire, cable or the like inserted so that the axial bore of the reel receives the dowel member 7 of the stub axle member. The other end of the container may then be closed as previously described such that when the dowel member of the second stub axle member is inserted in aperture 23 it will also be aligned with and received by the axial bore 11 of the reel of wire. It is here pointed out that the apertures 23 and 24 may be formed in any flap provided there is at least one aperture 23 and 24 at each end of the container and the folding of the flaps will be governed accordingly.

The container is shown as being equipped with aperture defining means in the form of a perforated substantially rectangular outline 12 on side 4. This outline is preferably located completely in one longitudinal half of the side wall and adjacent another side wall, in this case side 1, and extends lengthwise of side 4 over a major portion of the length thereof. In operation the central portion 13 defined by the perforated outline 12 is pressed inwardly to form a wire dispensing aperture 14. It is seen from FIGURE 2 that for best results the reel of wire should be inserted such that when the wire is dispensed it extends in a straight line from the periphery of the reel through the aperture with no bending or twisting. The rectangular shape of the aperture provides for the free and unobstructed dispensing of the wire along the entire length of the reel. It is here pointed out that the aperture may be formed on any side of the container and means for forming this aperture are not limited to the means disclosed in the drawings. For example it is not necessary to completely punch out the tab portion 13 as it could be connected along one edge to fold outwardly when wire is desired to be dispensed and folded back to cover the opening when the dispensing unit is not in use. Another useful variation is the addition of a finger receiving tab within the outline to facilitate the removal of the central portion 13.

Although the force of gravity will hold the container in place until the container is substantially empty; in order to anchor the box from sliding along the floor when wire is being dispensed at that stage, tab members 25 (in l FIGURES 1 and 3) defined by the perforated outline 26 are provided as anchoring tabs. Adjacent each tab is a second tab 27 defined by perforated lines 27a. To bring the tabs to operable position the tab 27 is pressed in to form a finger receiving recess 27b; the finger may then be inserted in aperture 27b in order to grip the tab 26 and pull it downwards about fold line 28 until the tab comes into contact with the floor or other surface on which the container is supported. The tab may then be connected to the floor by a nail 29 or other means and the box therefore held rigid against sliding. It is to be understood that preferably the tab members are formed from the side opposite to that in which the wire dispensing aperture is formed and are foldably connected to the side nearest but not containing the wire dispensing aperture. The tab members shown in the drawings are illustrative only and it is to be understood that one or more tabs of various shapes and sizes may be effectively used.

What we claim as our invention is:

A container adapted to receive a reel of wire, cable or the like, said container having rectangular end walls spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the axial length of the reel of wire, cable or the like, transversely disposed sidewalls connecting said end walls and stub axle members extending inwardly from each end wall, normal thereto and located centrally thereof and capable of supporting the reel of wire thereon for rotation about its longitudinal axis; each stub axle member having a fiat rectangular base portion thereon for engagement with said end walls and comprising a cylindrical dowel member aflixed to the base portion with its longitudinal axis normal therewith; said end walls being formed of square extensions at the free ends of each sidewall which are folded to completely overlap one another, the extension first folded to form the inside layer of said end wall having an aperture centrally thereof of such size and shape as to snugly receive the cylindrical dowel member, the two extensions next folded to form two intermediate layers having corresponding apertures therein which are of such shape and size as to snugly receive the rectangular base portion, and the extension next folded to form the outside layer of the end wall being of solid construction.

References Cited in the file of this patent

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