Reel and method of assembly

Abstract

A reel and a method of assembling and disassembling the reel are described. The reel includes a pair of flanges, each flange engaged with the circular or polygonal end of a flexed stave pane formed from appropriately sized staves connected to one another by one or more flexible bands. To make the reel, the staves are aligned side by side and connected to one another by way of the flexible bands. Once connected, the staves form the flexible stave pane having joints in between each stave. Assembly of the reel involves flexing the stave pane into a tubular barrel with circular or polygonal ends adapted to correspond with a stave-engaging portion on each flange. Once one end is engaged with the stave-engaging portion of one flange, the opposing end of the flexed stave pane is engaged with a second stave-engaging portion on the second flange and the flanges are connected.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of assembling a reel comprising: 
 aligning a plurality of staves side by side;    connecting the staves with one or more flexible bands to form a stave pane;    flexing the stave pane to form a tubular barrel;    engaging each end of the barrel with a stave-engaging portion of a flange; and    securing the flanges engaged with each end of the barrel to one another.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the barrel has a substantially circular cross section.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the connecting step comprises the steps of positioning the flexible band adjacent each stave and mechanically fastening the band to each stave.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of mechanically fastening comprises stapling the band to each stave.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein at least one flexible band comprises an extension portion extending past an end of the stave pane.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising the steps of attaching the extension portion to the end of the stave pane opposite the end from which it extends.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the flexible band is polyethylene.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the securing step comprises the step of attaching the two flanges with a bolt.  
     
     
         9 . A reel comprising: 
 a stave pane formed from a plurality of staves connected to one another by one or more flexible bands, the stave pane being flexed into an open-ended tubular barrel;    first and second flanges connected to one another, each flange having a stave-engaging portion engaged with one of the ends of the barrel.    
     
     
         10 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein the one or more flexible bands are attached to the inside surface of the barrel.  
     
     
         11 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein the stave-engaging portion is a circular groove.  
     
     
         12 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein the stave-engaging portion comprises ribs.  
     
     
         13 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein the stave-engaging portion is a skirt.  
     
     
         14 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein the flanges are connected by a pair of bolts extending parallel with the axis of the barrel.  
     
     
         15 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein the flexible bands are plastic.  
     
     
         16 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein the flexible bands are strips of cloth.  
     
     
         17 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein the flexible bands are connected to each stave by staples.  
     
     
         18 . The reel of  claim 9  wherein each stave has a concave inside face and a convex outside face.