Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
WO 99/62808 PCT/CA99/00481
1
SPOOL ASSEMBLY FOR PINTLE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a spool assembly for use in storing
and handling a wire or a cable, which is preferably but not necessarily a
pintle.
1 o b) Brief description of the prior art
In the paper making industry, it is of common practice to use fabric
belts that are made of sections connected to each other to form an endless
loop. Such belts carry the wet fibrous sheets that are prepared from the
processed pulp. It is also of common practice to connect the adjacent ends
of the belt sections by means of seams made by passing a cable known in
the trade as a « pintle » through a tubular passage formed by intermeshed
loops of fabric yarns projecting at the ends of the adjacent sections when
the same are interfitted and held together. Usually, the pintle consists of a
mono- or multi-filament yarn whose leading end is attached to a stiff guiding
2 o wire made of metal, which acts as a needle to facilitate insertion of the
yarn
into the passage farmed by the loops.
Further information regarding the use of pintles to connect fabric belt
sections, can be found to the preambles of U.S. patent Nos. 4,842,212 to
ASTEN GROUP, INC. and 5,033,618 to ALBANY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Of course, .it is necessary that the pintle be stored and made available
in such a manner as to make its use and installation as fast and easy as
possible, especially in the case of replacement of used or damaged sections
of the belt of a paper making machine, which must be made in a very fast
manner on the premises.
3 o Spool assemblies for pintles have already been devised to meet the
above mentioned requirement. In this connection, reference can be made
again to the above mentioned patents, which are both directed to such
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assemblies. Reference can also ba made to U.S. patent No. 5,280,861 in
the name of i.IPPEI~T PINTLEPIN MFG. INC. which discloses a spool
assembly comprising one or two cylindrical spools in which pintles can be
wound. Qne or two cylindrical spoof-receiving members are provided. Each
S ' of them has a cylindrical peripheral wall, a flange preferably in the form
of
a ring projecting radially inwardly from one of the edges of the peripheral
wall to held one of the spools, a plurality of hooks integral to and
projecting
from the other edge of the peripheral wall at given intervals, and an outlet
provided in the peripheral wall to allow the pintie wound in the groove of th~
1o spool to be pulled out. The spool assembly disclosed in this patent also
comprises a fiat, preferably ring-shaped circular cover having an external
diameter that can be engaged by the hooks and held tight by these hooks
against the other edge of the spool receiving member, to form therewith a
casing in which each spoof is freely mounted. A stopper is devised to be
15 snapped onto the casing formed by each spool receiving member and the
corresponding saver, in order to rigidly hold any portion of the pintle
projecting outwardly from the casing through the opening and thus to r
prevent the pintle from winding back into the corresponding spool-receiving
member when such is not wanted.
2o Even if the structural components of the spool assembly disclosed in
thl5 U.S. patent No. 5,280,861 are easy to assemble and use, it has now I
I
been found a simpler and more efficient way to design and assemble
together zhe structure! components of a spool assembly. It has also been ;
f
fotnd a better and more efficient way of controlling the exit of the pintie
E
k
when it is pulled out. 4.
US-A-b,653,810 to THL E.1NGOLN ELECTRIC CO, discloses a spout
assembly far a welding wire, comprising a spool called "reel", which is h~ld
,,.
in a spool receiving assembly called "cover". ThE axially outer side of one E~
of the flanges of the reel is provided with ratchet teeth. A resilient pawl is
::
attached to the cover in such a manner as to engage the teeth and preclude '
rotation of the reel in one direction. There is no acs~ss to the paw! and
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009900481
3
no way of releasing it whenever desired. In this patent, it is also disclosed
that a seating member of rubber can be provided in the outlet of the cover.
This sealing member is devised to press on the wire thereby sealing ingress
of air moisture into the cover, The sealing member acts also as a built in
drug brake "to refrain free displacement of the win through the opening.
US A-b,24b,761 to WA!_DHERR discloses a locking mechanism for
retractable tape. The tape comprises a spring-biased spool called
°reel" h$Id in
.a housing. ThE annular ends of the flanges of the reel have teeth made
therein,
which cooperate with a finger-operated, tiltable arm to lock the tape in a
given
position and allow it to be automatically rewinded upon release.
Oa~ECT AND suMMARY of THE INVEnrTfoN
Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a spool
z5 assembly for wires, cables, pintles and the tike, which is very simple in '
structure and very handy tv use.
E
More specifically, the object of the invention is to provide a spoof '
assemt~ly comprising only two basic components, namely a spool and a v
20 Sp°°I receiving rnembar incorporating a brake and,
optionally, a set of
stoppers as parts of its structure. j
The spool assembly according to the invention basically comprises;
- a spool of given outer diameter and thickness on which the wire
to be stared can be wound, the spool being annular in shape and
devised to define a radiafly outwardly opened rim of U-shaped !'
2S ;
crass-section in which the wire can be wound, the rim having a
bottom wall in the farm of an annular ring and two side walls in
the form of flat rings that project radially outwardly from both
sides of the annular ring, at Isast one of the side walls having an
3 o outer edge with teeth formed in ft, the teeth being equally spaced- '
apart, identical in size and all oriented in a same direction; and
- a spool-receiving member comprising; '
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--a spool-receiving element comprising a surrounding wall having
an inner diameter and a width selected to match with the outer
diameter and thickness of the spool, and a ring-shaped wall that
projects radially inwardly from one side of the surrounding wall to
provide a lateral support an one side of the spool;
--means connected to the spool-receiving member for catching
the spool and freely retain9ng said spool' within the spool-receiving
element; and
-a brake connected to the spool-receiving member, said brake
la comprising at least one tooth shape, sized and oriented in a
direction opposite to the said direction so as to engage the teeth
of the one side wall of tote spool and thus to prevent said spool
from being rotated in the said direction,
This spool assembly is characterized in that:
- the brake Is.manuaJly operable and comprises a finger-operated,
tiltable arm extending externally and substantially tangentially onto the
spool
receiving element, said at least one tooth projecting from the tiltable arm
and
being tiitable therewith, 'whereby one way rotate the spool in tha said
direction a
when the arm is tilted bp; and
2 0 - the assembly further comprises at least one stopper fixed to the ;_
f
spool-receiving member, said at least one stapper comprising a rod extending
a
transversely close to the surrounding wall of the spool-receiving member at a
short distance away from the outlet and a rubber cap having radialfy
projecting
flanges on part of it, said cap being fitted onto the rod and sized so that,
when f'
2 s it is rotated, its flanges may come into contact with the surrounding wall
and
~i
pinch the wire extending on it, thereby locking said wire.
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Preferably, each of the structural components of the spool assembly
according to the invention is made of plastic material.
In a first preferred embodiment of the invention:
-the means for catching the spool consists of a set of
circumferentiatly spaced-apart hooks projecting from the ring-shaped wall,
these hooks being sized, positioned and oriented to catch the spool and
freely retain it within the spool-receiving element;
-the spool-receiving element comprises an handle integral thereto and
projecting externally therefrom;
o -the tiltable arm of the brake consists of a flexible partially cut-out
portion .
of the surrounding wall of the spool-receiving element, this cut-out portion
extending below the handle; and
-the brake also comprises a ring integral to the flexible portion of the
surrounding waft, this ring being sized, shaped and oriented in such a
manner as to be engageable by one finger of a user holding the spool
assembly by the handle so as to disengage tha at least one tooth of the i
brake from the teeth of the spool.
In a second preferred Embodiment of the invention;
-the means for catching the spool comprises a set of~circumferentially
spaced-apart hooks projecting from the surrounding v~rall, the hooks being
sized, positioned and oriented .to engage a corresponding set of hook-
receiving slots provided in a cover in the form of a flat ring extending in a
plane perpendicular to the central axes of the spool-receiving element when
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WO 99/62808 PCT/CA99/00481
hooked thereto, the cover having an external diameter long enough to make
the slots engageable by the hooks and being held tight by these hooks
against the spool-receiving element to form therewith casing in which the
spool is freely mounted; and
5 -the tiltable arm of the brake is held onto the spool-receiving member
between a bead projecting from the surrounding wall and a claw projecting
from the cover so as to extend just above the bead when the spool
receiving element is properly connected to the cover, the bead and claw
acting together as a pivot for the tiltable arm when the same is slid and
1o snapped therebetween.
As can be appreciated, the spool assembly according to the invention
is very simple in structure and assembly in addition of being versatile in
use.
The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon
reading the following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment
thereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is an exploded rear perspective view of a spool assembly
2o according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, showing its two
basic structural components, viz, the spool and the spool-receiving member;
Figures 2 and 3 are rear and front perspective views, respectively, of
the spool-receiving member of the spool assembly shown in Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the upper portion of
the spool assembly shown in Figure 1, with the spool and the spool-
receiving member illustrated in assembled position;
Figure 5 is an enlarged front perspective view in partial cross-section
of the upper portion of the spool assembly shown in Figure 1, with the
spool and the spool-receiving member illustrated in assembled position;
3 o Figure 6 is a view similar to the one shown in Figure 5 but taken from
a different angle, said Figure showing details of the stoppers that are parts
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WO 99/62808 PCT/CA99/00481
- 6
of the spool-receiving member;
Figures 7 and 8 are front perspective views of the upper portion of
the spool assembly according to the first preferred embodiment of the
invention as shown in Figures 1 to 6, when used to unwind the pintle
(Figure 7) and to rewind the same (Figure 8);
Figure 9 is an exploded front perspective view of a spool assembly
according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 10 is a perspective cross-section view of part of the spool of
the assembly according to the second preferred embodiment of the
1o invention as shown in Figure 9;
Figures 1 1 A to C are perspective cross-sectional views illustrating
the way of assembling the spool-receiving element and cover forming the
spool-receiving member of the spool assembly according to the second
preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figures 12 A and B are perspective views showing the brake of the
spool assembly according to the second preferred embodiment of the
invention, Figure 12 B having part of the adjacent spool-receiving element
cut away to illustrate the engagement of the tooth of the brake with the
teeth of the spool;
2o Figure 13 is a side elevational, partially cut-away view of the portion
of the spool-receiving element where the tooth of the brake engages the
teeth of the spool;
Figures 14 and 15 are front perspective views of the spool assembly
according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention, shown
assembled with two spool-receiving elements and two spools, said views
illustrating the assembly when use to unbound the pintle (Figure 14) and to
rewind the same (Figure 15).
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_ 7
DESCRIPTION OF TWO PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
The spool assembly 1 according to the first preferred embodiment of
the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings, is
intended to be used for storing and handling a wire or cable, such as a pintle
3 (see Figures 5, 7 and 8?.
As shown, in Figure 1, the spool assembly 1 comprises two basic
components, each of which is preferably made of plastic material. These
components are:
1o - a spool 11 on which the pintle 3 to be stored can be wound; and
- a spool-receiving member 31 for receiving and holding the spool
11.
As is shown in Figures 1 and 5, the spool 1 1 is annular in shape and
devised to define a radially outwardly opened rim 13 of U-shaped cross-
section in which the pintle 3 can be wound. The rim 13 has a bottom wall
in the form of an annular ring and two side walls 17,19 in the form of flat
rings that project radially outwardly from both sides of the annular ring. As
can be seen, the side walls 17,19 have substantially the same outer
diameter. One of the side walls, viz. the one numbered 19, has an outer
2o edge with teeth 21 formed in it. The teeth 21 formed in this outer edge are
equally spaced-apart, identical in size and all oriented in the same direction
"A". The utility of these teeth 21 will be explained hereinafter. The spool
1 1 also comprises a stem 23 integral to and projecting externally from the
side wall 19. This stem 23 provides a finger grip to the user and makes
easier for this user to impart rotation to the spool whenever such is desired.
As is better shown in Figures 2 and 3, the spool-receiving member 31
of the spool assembly 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention
is made of one piece only. It consists of a spool-receiving element 33 and
it further incorporates a handle 35, a brake 37 and an optional set of
3 0 stoppers.
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The spool-receiving element 33 comprises a surrounding wall 43
whose inner diameter and width are selected to "match" with the outer
diameter and thickness of the spool 1 1. It also comprises a ring-shaped wall
45 that projects radially inwardly from one side of the surrounding wall 43
to provide a lateral support and thus to retain the spool 1 1 when the same
is inserted into the spool-receiving element with its toothed side wall 19 in
contact with the wall 45 (see Figure 1 ).
Means are provided for catching the spool 1 1 and retaining it into the
spool receiving element 33. In this first preferred embodiment, these
l0 catching means consist of a set of circumferentially spaced-apart hooks 47,
47' that project upwardly from the wall 45. These hooks are sized,
positioned and oriented to "catch" the outer edge of the other side wall 17
of the spoof in order to freely retain the same within the spool-receiving
element 33. The expression "to freely retain" as used hereinabove and is the
accompanying claims, means to hold and retain the spoof 1 1 within the
element 45 while allowing it to be rotated coaxiaily therewith either by
pulling the pintle 3 out of the spool or by manually imparting a rotation to
the spool via the stem 23.
As is shown, each hook 47,47' is provided with a reinforcing flange
49. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four hooks and two of them
(those numbered 47') have their flanges 49 positioned in such a manner as
not to infer with their flexibility, thereby making it possible to easily
"snap"
the spool 1 1 within the spool-receiving element 43 and to detach it from the
same whenever wanted. The holes that are shown adjacent to each hook
on the accompanying drawings, are just there for molding purpose.
As is also shown, other reinforcing flanges 51 may advantageously
be provided onto the inner and outer edges of the ring-shaped wall 45 both
in and out of the spool-receiving element 33.
The handle 35 is integral to the spool-receiving element 33. As is
3 0 shown, it is in the form of a loop and has a U-shaped cross-section with a
bottom wall 53 integral to and extending in the same plane as the ring
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shaped wall 45 and a pair of opposite side walls 55 integral to and
extending in line with the surrounding wall 43.
The brake 37 is also integral to the spoof-receiving element 33. It is
located within the loop formed by the handle to allow the user to trigger it
with one finger when holding the ass~mbly see Figure 8). As is shown, the
brake 37 comprises a tiltable arrn consisting of a flexible partially cut-out
portibn 57 of the surrounding wall 43 of the spool-receiving element 33.
This flexible portion 57 is located "below" the handle 35 as is shown in the
drawings. The brake 37 also comprises a ring 59 sized to be engaged by
one of the fingers of the person holding the spool assembly 1 by the handle
35 (see Figure 8?. The brake 37 further comprises at least one and
preferably two teeth 61 projecting below the ring 59 towards the periphery
of the spool '11. More specifically, the teeth 61 are shaped, sized and
z 5 oriented in a direction opposite to the arrow ."A"' so as to engage the
teeth
21 of the side wall 19 of the spoof 1 1 and thus to prevent the spool from
being rotated in the direction "A" unless the handle 3~ is lifted up thanks '
to the flexibility of the arm-defining, cut-out portion 57. in practice, this
allows
the pintle 3 to be freely unwound as is shown in Figure 7 while preventing It
o from inadvertently moving back into the spool assembly 1 due to a back
i
pressure that would rotate the spool in the direction "A". This also permits
to hold the spool 9 and to prevent i: from rotating when not in use. If,
however, ons wants to rewind part of the unwound pintle 3, he or she may '
lift up the brake 37 as is shown in Figure 8 and then rotate the spool t by d
' means of its stem 23 to rewind the pintle. Opposite beads 6Z may j
advantageously be provided on the adjacent portion of the handle 35 and
flexible arm portion 57 to limit the motion of the brake when it is lifted up.
Qf course, an outlet 63 must be provided in the surrocrnding wall of ,.
i
the spool-receiving element 33 to allow the pintle 3 wound on the spool to
30 '
exit from the spool-receiving member 31. Preferably, this outlet 63 is
located in a portion of the member 3i that is 2djaeent to the handle 35, f
I'
Preferably also, the spool-receiving member 31 comprises, as part of the
I
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structure of its surrounding wall, a substantially flat supporting surface 65
external to the spool receiving element 33, just "behind" the outlet fi3. The
purpose of this supporting surface 65 is to support and guide the pintle 3
exiting from the outlet 63, as is better shown in Figures 5, 7 and 8.
Adjacent to the supporting surface 65 is a supporting wall 67 that is
preferably also an integral part of the spool-receiving member 31. As is
shown, this supporting wall 67 is, for obvious design reason, preferably
triangular in shape and extends in a radial plane, thereby making this wall
67 parallel to the side walls 17, 19 of the spool 1 1 dnd to the ring shaped
wail 45 of the spool-receiving element 33.
The supporting wall 67 supports the two stoppers already mentioned
hereinabove. As is better shown in Figure 6, the first stopper comprises of
a slotted rod 39 that is integral to and projects perpendicularly from the
well
fi7 at a short distance away from both the outlet 63 and supporting surface
I5
65. This slotted red 39 is devised to receive a rubber peg 69 having a
radially projectir:g tongue 71 which, when the peg is inserted into the rod
39, comes into contact with and bears against the supporting surface 65
and thus pinches the portion of the pintle 3 that rnay extend on it.
Z p The second stopper also comprises of a roc! 41 that is integral to and
projects perpendicularly from the wall 67 at a short distance away from
both the first stopper 39 and the supporting surface 69. This rod 41 is
devised to receive a rubber cap 73 having radially projecting flanges 75 on
part of its side. Once again, when the cap is fitted onto the rod 41 and
25 Pral'e'dY rotated, its flanges come into contact with the supporting
surface
65 and pinch the pintle 3, thereby IocE<ing it in position.
The main advantage of using such stoppers and more especially the
second one with the rod 41, is that theye give to the user of the spool
assembly
1 :he possibility to lock the end of the pintle 3 and prevent it from moving
in any
3o direction
The spool assembly 7 that has just been described is very simple yet
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- 11
efficient in structure. It comprises only two structural components
(excluding the rubber peg 69 and cap 73) that are of very simple structure
and easy to mold and assemble. It works as well as, not to say better than,
the existing assemblies and has the same advantages. It also has the ability
to prevent unwanted backward rotation of the spool.
The spool assembly 101 according to the second preferred
embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 9 to 15 of the
accompanying drawings, is, like the one previously described, intended to
be used for storing and handling an wire or a cable, especially a pintle 103.
to Because of the structural similarity between the spool assemblies 1 and
101, the same reference numerals have been used to identify the same
structural elements, except that a distinguishing "100" has been added to
all the reference numerals used to identify the elements of the spool
assembly according to the second preferred embodiment of the invention.
Like the spool assembly 1, the spool assembly 101 comprises two
basic components, each of which is preferably made of plastic material.
These components are:
- a spool 1 1 1 on which the pintle 103 to be stored can be wound;
and
- a spool-receiving member 131 for receiving and holding the spool
111.
As is shown in Figures 9 and 10, the spool 111 is structurally
identical to the spool 11. It is annular in shape and devised to define a
radialfy outwardly opened rim 1 13 of U-shaped cross-section in which the
pintle 103 can be wound. The rim 1 13 has a bottom wall in the form of an
annular ring and two side walls 1 17,1 19 in the form of flat rings that
project radially outwardly from both sides of the annular ring. The side walls
1 17, 1 19 have the same outer diameter and one of the side walls, viz. the
one numbered 1 19, has an outer edge with teeth 121 formed in it. The
3 o teeth 121 are equally spaced-apart, identical in size and all oriented in
the
same direction "A". The spool 1 1 1 also comprises a stem 123 integral to
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- 12
and projecting externally from the side wall 1 19. This stem 123 provides a
finger grip to the user and makes it easier to impart rotation to the spool
whenever such is desired.
As is shown in Figures 9 and 11 A to C, the spool-receiving member
131 of the spool assembly 101 according to the second embodiment of the
invention is made of two pieces, including a spool-receiving element 133
and a cover 183.
The spool-receiving element 133 comprises a surrounding wall 143
whose inner diameter and width are selected to "match" with the outer
l0 diameter and thickness of the spool 1 1 1. It also comprises a ring-shaped
wall 145 that projects radially inwardly from one side of the surrounding
wall 143 to provide a lateral support and thus to retain the spool 1 1 1 when
the same is inserted into the spool-receiving element with its toothed side
wall 1 19 in contact with the wall 145 (see Figure 9y.
Means are provided for catching the spool 1 1 1 and retaining it into
the spool-receiving element 133. In this second preferred embodiment,
these catching means include a set of circumferentially spaced-apart hooks
147 that project away from the free edge 146 of the surrounding wall 145
in the same "plane" as this wall 145. These hooks are slightly resilient and
are sized, positioned and oriented to engage a corresponding set of hook-
receiving slots 187 provided in the cover 183.
The catching means also include the cover 183 which closes the
spool-receiving element 133 when it is hooked to it. As is shown, the cover
183 is in the form of a flat ring which extends in a plane perpendicular to
the central axis of the spool receiving element when it is hooked to it. This
cover 183 has an external diameter long enough to make the slots 187
engageable by the hooks 147 and is held tight by these hooks against the
free edge 146 of the spool-receiving element to form therewith a casing in
which the spool 1 1 1 is freely mounted. As is also shown, the cover 183
3 o has an external diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the
surrounding wall 143 of the spool-receiving element 133. As a result, a
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- I3
peripheral portion 185 of the cover projects radially outwardly from the
spoof-receiving element 133 when the latter is hooked to the cover 183.
As already mentioned hereinabove, the hook-receiving slots 187 are
sized and positioned as to be engageable by the hooks 27 projecting from
the spool-receiving element 133. Preferably, the slots 187 comprise a first
portion 189 and a second portion 191 that are spaced-apart and linked
together by a channel 193 as seen in Figure 1 1 A. The first portion 189 is
large enough to allow insertion therein of the head of one of the hooks 147.
The channel 193 is wide enough to allow the central part of the hook 147
1o to slide within it. The second portion 191 is smaller in width than the
first
portion 189 and comprises a locking notch 195.
As is shown in Figures 1 1 A to C, the spoof-receiving element 133
can be connected to the cover 183 by inserting its hooks 147 into the first
portion 189 of a set of corresponding slots 187 (Fig. 1 1 B). Then, the cover
183 can be rotated so as to move the hooks 147 from the first portions of
the slots to the second portions 191 of the same slots though the channels
193. In these second portions, the hooks 147 are "snapped" and are held
in place by means of the notches 195 (Fig. 1 1 C).
Of course, an outlet 163 is provided in the surrounding wall 143 of
2 o the spool-receiving element 133 to allow the pintle 103 wound on the spool
1 11 to be pulled out. As is shown in Fig. 9, the outlet 163 is elongated and
rectangular and extends centrally on the surrounding wall 143. Preferably,
the end 164 of the outlet 163 where the pintle 103 exits, is inwardly
tapered.
The spool assembly 101 according to the second preferred
embodiment of the invention, also comprise a brake 137 connected to the
spool-receiving member 131. Brake-holding means are provided for holding
the brake 137 in operative position relative to the spool 1 11 held in the
spool-receiving member 131. These brake-holding means comprise a bead
3 0 195 that is part of and projects from the surrounding wall 143 of the
spool-
receiving element 133. As better shown in Figs. 9 and 12A and B, the bead
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WO 99/62808 PCT/CA99/00481
- 14
195 is perpendicular to the outlet 163 and extends at a short distance firom
the same. The brake-holding means also comprises a V-shaped claw 197
projecting from the peripheral portion 185 of the cover 183 so as to extend
just above the bead 195 when the spool-receiving element 133 is "properly"
connected to the cover 1$3. The bead 195 and claw 197 act together as
a pivot for the brake 137 which comprises a tiltable arm 157 which extends
substantially tangentially close to the spool 111 once it is slid and
"snapped" between the bead 195 and claw 197. The arm 157 has, in its
middle portion, an integral upwardly projecting boss 158 supporting a set
l0 of retaining tabs 160 whose purpose is to ensure that the arm 157 remains
centrally positioned for pivotal motion between the bead 195 and the claw
197. The arm also comprises a notch 162 in its bottom surface below the
boss 158, for pivotal engagement onto the bead 195.
The brake 137 comprises a tooth 161 that projects downwardly from
one end of the arm 157 so as to contact and engage the teeth 121 of the
spool 111. To allow such a contact, an opening 199 is provided in the
walls 145 and 157 of the spool-receiving element 133 close to the end 164
of the outlet 163.
Once the brake 137 is installed, its tooth 161 engages the teeth 121
of the side wall 119 of the spool 111 and thus prevents unwanted
backward rotation of the spool 1 1 1 in the direction "A". Release of the
spool 1 11 to rewind the pintle may only be achieved by tilting up the arm
157, which is otherwise held "down" with its tooth in locking position by
means of a rubber sleeve 201 sized and shaped to be slid onto the end of
the arm 157 that is opposite to the one where is located the tooth 161. The
sleeve 201 has an upper surface defining an element on which the user may
press with his/her thumb (see Figure 15), and a lower surface from which
projects a resilient finger 203 which is pressed down and squeezed between
the arm 157 and the surrounding wall 143 when a pressure is exerted onto
3 o the sleeve 201. This finger 203 acts as a "return spring" and tilts the
arm
157 back to its original position where the tooth 161 engages the teeth 121
CA 02331637 2000-11-03
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of the spool and prevents it from rotating in the direction "A".
Figures 14 and 7 5 illustrate the operation of the spool assembly 101. i
As can be seen, the user holds firmly and with one hand only the spool t
assembly 101. Ry properly positioning his/her hand relative to the brake
5 137, the user may also press with hislher thumb on the sleave 201 of the
brake 137 to lift the tooth 161 whenever such is desired. When the brake
is not tilted up, the user may still pull the pintle 103 out of the spool
assembly 1 because the tooth fib "slips" ovEr those of the spool i01.
When the brake is tilted up, the spool 11 mey be rotated counter-clockwise
1o with the help of the stem 123 to rewind the portion of the pintle 103 that
protrudes from the assembly 101.
Like the spool assembly 1, the spool assembly 1 Q1,
compri es also a stopper. This stopper comprises a rod 141 integrally
prajectiing perpendicularly from the peripheral portion 185 of the cover ~ 83
15 so as tv extend close to the surrounding wall 343 of the spool-receiving
element 133 at a~short distance away from the outlet 1 fi3 when the spool-
receiving member 131 is assembled. The stopper also comprises a rubber
cap t 73 having radially projecting flanges 175 on part of it. The cap 173 is
fitted onto the rod 141 and sized sa that, when it is rotated, its flanges 175
may come into contact with the surrounding wall 143 and pinch the pintle
103 extending on it, thereby locking this pintle whenever desired (see
Figures 14 and 15).
In the above description of the spool assembly 101, reference has
been made to one single spool 1 11 held in a spool-receiving element 733
hooked to the cover 183. In accordance with a variant of this second
preferred embodiment of the invention, the spool assembly 101 rnay
comprise two separate spools 111 held in parallel relationship in two spool
receiving elements 133, 133' (see Figs. 9, 14 and 15) hooked on both sides
of the same cover 183. For this purpose, the cover 183 has another
°opposite" set of hook receiving slots 1S7 sized and positioned to
receiva
the hooks t47' of the second spool receiving element 133'. The cover 41 j
L
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CA 02331637 2000-11=03 AMENDED SHEET
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WO 99/62808 PCT/CA99/00481
- 16
also has a second claw, similar to the first claw 197 but extending in the
opposite direction, for holding another brake provided on the second spool
receiving element 133'. This second claw is preferably spaced-apart from
the first claw at a distance that substantially corresponds to the size of a
hand. This, makes it possible for the user to hold, store and supply two
distinct pintles whenever required.
As stated hereinabove, the spool assembly 1 and 101 according to
the invention are preferably made of plastic material. More preferably to
obtain a up-market, transparent and shock resistant product, the spool
to receiving element 33, 133 and the cover 183 in the case of the second
embodiment, can be made of polycarbonate whereas the spool 11, 11 1 is
made of polystyrene. Polystyrene is cheaper than polycarbonate and it offers
better sliding of the spool 1 1, 11 1 within the spool assembly 1, 101. The
spool 1 1, 1 1 1 may also be coloured to increase the aesthetic appearance
of the whole assembly.
In a cheaper and more shock sensitive commodity version of the
assembly, the spool receiving element 33, 133 and the cover 183 can be
opaque. In this version, the spool receiving element 33, 133 and the spool
1 1, 1 1 1 may be made of polypropylene whereas the cover 183 can be
made of polystyrene. This choice of plastic material permits to obtain a very
good sliding of the spool 11 within the assembly. The product obtained
therefore is clearly cheaper than the existing up-market similar products.
Although two preferred embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail herein also and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these
embodiments and that various changes and modifications could be made
therein without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. By way
of example, accordingly to the type and the size of the pintle 3, 103 that is
used, it could be advantageous to adjust the respective positions of the
3 0 outlet, brake and stopper(s1.
CA 02331637 2000-11-03
