Granted Patent B2

US 6,948,680 · App. 10/174,420 · Granted Sep 27, 2005

Abstract

Claims (99)

1. A device for separately storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component separated from the electric cable, the device comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum having an electric cable winding surface around which the electric cable can be wound and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum, the drum and flanges defining a well exterior to the drum; and

(b) at least one container disposed within the well and removably secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity for receiving the electric cable component apart from the electric cable and located so that the electric cable winding surface is exposed.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a lagging coupled to the reel to enclose at least a portion of the well.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the container is secured to one of the flanges.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the container is secured to the one flange by at least one fastening element.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the container includes a bottom surface in contact with the drum.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the drum, the container and one of the flanges define a cable storage well for receiving the cable.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein the container is secured to the other flange.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the container includes a bottom surface in contact with the drum.

9. The device of claim 1 further including a wrap for wrapping around the container.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of containers, and wherein the drum, the containers and one of the flanges define a cable storage well for receiving the cable.

11. The device of claim 10 wherein the containers are secured to the other flange.

12. The device of claim 10 further including a wrap for wrapping around the drum and containers.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the container is assembled from a panel assembly.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the container is constructed of high density polyethylene.

15. The device of claim 1 further including a hook and loop fastener removably securing the container to the reel.

16. A device for separately storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component separated from the electric cable, the device comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum having an electric cable winding surface around which the electric cable can be wound and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum, the drum and flanges defining a well exterior to the drum; and

(b) at least one container disposed within the well and secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity for receiving the electric cable component apart from the electric cable and located so that the electric cable winding surface is exposed, and

wherein the container includes at least one flap movable to a closed position for enclosing the cavity of the container.

17. The device of claim 16 further comprising a wrap for maintaining the flap in the closed position.

18. A device for storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component, the device comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum around which the electric cable can be wound and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum, the drum and flanges defining a well exterior to the drum; and

(b) at least one container disposed within the well and secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity for receiving the electric cable component, and

wherein the container includes a pair of flaps movable to closed positions for enclosing the cavity of the container.

19. A device for separately storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component separated from the cable, the device comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum having an electric cable winding surface around which the electric cable can be wound and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum, the drum and flanges defining a well exterior to the drum; and

(b) at least one container disposed within the well and secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity for receiving the electric cable component apart from the electric cable and located so that the electric cable winding surface is exposed; and

further comprising a plurality of containers, and wherein the drum, the containers and one of the flanges define a cable storage well for receiving the cable, the containers are secured to the other flange; and

wherein each container has a length extending from the other flange toward the one flange, the lengths of the containers being approximately the same.

20. A device for separately storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component separated from the cable, the device comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum having an electric cable winding surface around which the electric cable can be wound and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum, the drum and flanges defining a well exterior to the drum; and

(b) at least one container disposed within the well and secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity for receiving the electric cable component apart from the electric cable and located so that the electric cable winding surface is exposed; and

further comprising a plurality of containers, and wherein the drum, the containers and one of the flanges define a cable storage well for receiving the cable and wherein each of the containers includes a bottom surface in contact with the drum.

21. A method for separately storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component separated from the electric cable, the method comprising:

(a) winding the electric cable around a drum of a reel within a well exterior of the drum of the reel and outside of a cavity defined apart from the electric cable by a container secured to the reel and disposed within the well; and

(b) placing the electric cable component within the cavity.

22. The method of claim 21 further including coupling a lagging to the reel to enclose at least a portion of the well.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the reel includes a pair of flanges disposed about the drum and wherein during the winding of the electric cable the electric cable is wound around the drum within a cable storage well defined by one of the flanges, the container and the drum.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein a plurality of containers, including the container, are secured to the reel and disposed within the well and a plurality of electric cable components, including the electric cable component, are placed within the cavities of the containers.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the reel includes a pair of flanges disposed about the drum and wherein during the winding of the electric cable the electric cable is wound around the drum within a cable storage well defined by one of the flanges, the containers and the drum.

26. The method of claim 21 further including enclosing the cavity after the placing of the electric cable component within the cavity.

27. The method of claim 21 including a plurality of electric cable components, including the electric cable component, and a plurality of containers, including the container, and further including wrapping the containers with a wrap after the placing of the electric cable components within the cavities.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein during the wrapping of the containers the wrap is also wound around the drum.

29. The method of claim 21 further including assembling the container from a panel assembly prior to the placing of the electric cable component within the cavity.

30. The method of claim 21 further including coupling a lagging to the reel to enclose substantially the entire well.

31. A method for separately storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component separated from the electric cable, the method comprising:

(a) winding the electric cable around a drum of a reel and within a well defined by the reel and located exterior of the drum; and

(b) placing the electric cable component within a cavity defined apart from the electric cable by a container secured to the reel and disposed within the well, including enclosing the cavity after the placing of the electric cable component within the cavity and

wherein the enclosing of the cavity includes moving a flap of the container to a closed position.

32. The method of claim 31 further including wrapping the container with a wrap to maintain the flap in the closed position.

33. A method for storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component, the method comprising:

(a) winding the electric cable around a drum of a reel and within a well defined by the reel,

(b) placing the electric cable component within a cavity defined by a container secured to the reel and disposed within the well

(c) assembling the container from a panel assembly prior to the placing of the electric cable component within the cavity, and

wherein the panel assembly comprises four bottom flaps and a pair of top flaps and further including enclosing the cavity after the placing of the electric cable components within the cavity by moving the pair of top flaps to closed positions.

34. A kit comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum defining a well exterior of the drum;

(b) a container disposed within the well and secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity apart from the electric cable;

(c) an electric cable of predetermined length wound around the drum and disposed within the well and so as to not extend into the cavity; and

(d) at least one electric cable component stored separately from the electric cable, the electric cable stored within the cavity separate from the electric cable.

35. The kit of claim 34 further including a lagging coupled to the reel substantially enclosing the well.

36. The kit of claim 34 wherein the drum, the container and one of the flanges define a cable storage well, the electric cable being disposed within the cable storage well.

37. The kit of claim 36 wherein the container is secured to the other flange.

38. The kit of claim 34 wherein the container includes a bottom surface contacting the drum.

39. The kit of claim 34 wherein the container is secured to one of the flanges.

40. The kit of claim 34 further including a wrap wrapped around the container and the drum.

41. The kit of claim 34 further comprising a plurality of the containers, including the container, disposed within the well and secured to the reel, and wherein the drum, the containers and one of the flanges define a cable storage well receiving the cable.

42. The kit of claim 41 wherein the containers are secured to the other flange.

43. The kit of claim 41 further including a wrap for wrapping around the drum and containers.

44. The kit of claim 34 wherein the container is assembled from a panel assembly.

45. A kit comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum defining a well exterior of the drum;

(b) a container disposed within the well and secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity;

(c) an electric cable of predetermined length wound around the drum and disposed within the well; and

(d) at least one electric cable component stored separately from the electric cable, the electric cable component stored within the cavity separate from the electric cable, and wherein the container includes at least one flap in a closed position enclosing the cavity of the container.

46. The kit of claim 45 further comprising a wrap maintaining the flap in the closed position.

47. A kit comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum defining a well exterior of the drum;

(b) a container disposed within the well and secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity;

(c) an electric cable of predetermined length wound around the drum and disposed within the well, the cavity being apart from the electric cable; and

(d) at least one electric cable component stored separate from the electric cable, the electric cable component stored within the cavity and separated from the electric cable,

further comprising a plurality of containers, and wherein the drum, the containers and one of the flanges define a cable storage well receiving the cable and wherein the containers are secured to the other flange, and

wherein each container has a length extending from the other flange toward the one flange, the lengths of the containers being approximately the same.

48. A kit comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum defining a well;

(b) a plurality of containers, including the container, disposed within the well and secured to the reel, each container defining a cavity;

(c) an electric cable of predetermined length wound around the drum and disposed within the well, each cavity defined apart from the electric cable; and

(d) at least one electric cable component stored separate from the electric cable, the electric cable component stored within one of the cavities;

wherein the drum, the containers and one of the flanges define a cable storage well receiving the cable, and

wherein each of the containers includes a bottom surface in contact with the drum.

49. A device for separately storing an electric cable of predetermined length and at least one electric cable component separated from the electric cable, the device comprising:

(a) a reel having a drum having an electric cable winding surface around which the electric cable can be wound and a pair of flanges disposed about the drum, the drum and flanges defining a well exterior of the drum;

(b) a lagging coupled to the reel to enclose at least a portion of the well; and

(c) at least one container disposed within the well and removably secured to the reel, the container defining a cavity for receiving the electric cable component apart from the electric cable and located so that the electric cable winding surface is exposed.

50. The device of claim 49 wherein the drum, the container and one of the flanges define a cable storage well for receiving the cable.

51. The device of claim 49 further comprising a plurality of containers, and wherein the drum, the containers and one of the flanges define a cable storage well for receiving the cable.

52. The device of claim 49 further including a hook and loop fastener removably securing the container to the reel.

Assignments (13)