US 12,304,766 B2
Reusable reel holder and bag with reusable reel holder
Brian Honsinger, Warners, NY (US); Noah P. Montena, Syracuse, NY (US); and Peter A. Carapella, Fayetteville, NY (US)
Assigned to PPC BROADBAND, INC., East Syracuse, NY (US)
Filed by PPC BROADBAND, INC., East Syracuse, NY (US)
Filed on Feb. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/666,545.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/146,554, filed on Feb. 5, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0250871 A1, Aug. 11, 2022
Int. Cl. B65H 49/20 (2006.01); B65H 49/36 (2006.01)
CPC B65H 49/205 (2013.01) [B65H 49/36 (2013.01); B65H 2701/32 (2013.01)] 28 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A reusable reel holder comprising:
a first reel holder member including a first frame member and a first ring member; and
a second reel holder member including a second frame member and a second ring member;
wherein the first ring member is configured to be coupled with the first frame member such that the first ring member is configured to be rotatable relative to the first frame member;
wherein the second ring member is configured to be coupled with the second frame member such that the second ring member is configured to be rotatable relative to the second frame member;
wherein the first ring member is configured to be coupled with a first flange of a reel of cable;
wherein the second ring member is configured to be coupled with a second flange of the reel of cable;
wherein the first ring member is configured to rotate relative to the first frame member when the reel is rotated;
wherein the second ring member is configured to rotate relative to the second frame member when the reel is rotated;
wherein the first ring member includes protrusions configured to extend through openings in the first flange of the reel, and a radially outer surface of each of the protrusions is configured to bear against an inner surface of a drum of the reel that extends between the first flange and the second flange of the reel;
wherein the second ring member includes protrusions configured to extend through openings in the second flange of the reel, and a radially outer surface of each of the protrusions is configured to bear against the inner surface of the drum of the reel; and
wherein the first ring member includes a radial outer portion configured to engage an outer surface of the first flange of the reel radially outward of the drum to prevent deformation of the first flange;
wherein the second ring member includes a radial outer portion configured to engage an outer surface of the second flange of the reel radially outward of the drum to prevent deformation of the second flange;
wherein the first ring member is configured to include radially extending support structures configured to engage the outer surface of the first flange of the reel radially outward of the drum to prevent deformation of the first flange;
wherein the second ring member is configured to include radially extending support structures configured to engage the outer surface of the second flange of the reel radially outward of the drum to prevent deformation of the second flange; and
wherein the first ring member is configured to be removed from the first flange of a reel of cable, and the second ring member is configured to be removed from a second flange of a reel of cable such that the reel can be removed from the reusable reel holder to permit a new reel to be mounted on the reusable reel holder.