Spool with drive feature

Abstract

A spool is provided for winding elongate material thereon. The spool includes a barrel having first and second ends and a central longitudinal axis. First and second flanges extend radially outward from the ends of the barrel. A longitudinal bore is located radially inward of the barrel. A plurality of support members extend radially outward from the bore to the barrel. One or more engagement beads are provided on at least one of the support members and extend longitudinally along the support member. The beads are positioned for engagement with a drive apparatus for facilitating winding of the spool.

1 . A spool for winding elongate material thereon, the spool comprising:
 a cylindrical barrel having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending therethrough;   first and second flanges respectively extending radially outward from the first and second ends of the barrel;   a longitudinal bore located radially inward of the barrel and extending along the same longitudinal axis as the barrel;   a plurality of support members extending radially outward from the bore to the barrel; and   an engagement bead located on at least one of the support members and extending into a space between adjacent support members, the bead positioned for engagement with a drive apparatus for facilitating winding or unwinding of elongate material on the spool.   
     
     
         2 . The spool according to  claim 1 , wherein the bead extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel along at least a portion of the support member. 
     
     
         3 . The spool according to  claim 1 , wherein the support member having the bead thereon comprises a longitudinal extension that is generally coplanar with the support member and extends axially from the support member towards one of the first or second ends of the barrel. 
     
     
         4 . The spool according to  claim 3 , wherein the bead extends along the longitudinal extension of the support member. 
     
     
         5 . The spool according to  claim 1 , further comprising a set of two beads located on two adjacent support members, wherein each bead projects from each respective support member towards the bead located on the adjacent support member. 
     
     
         6 . The spool according to  claim 5 , further comprising multiple sets of beads spaced circumferentially around the spool. 
     
     
         7 . The spool according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement bead is positioned on the support member for engagement of a drive apparatus at a radial position between the bead and the bore. 
     
     
         8 . The spool according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement bead is positioned on the support member for engagement of a drive apparatus at a radial position between the bead and the barrel. 
     
     
         9 . A spool for winding elongate material comprising:
 a barrel having a first radius and first and second longitudinal ends;   first and second flanges extending radially outward from the first and second longitudinal ends of the barrel, respectively;   a cylindrical bore having a second radius that is smaller than the first radius, the bore positioned radially inward of and generally concentric with the barrel;   a radial array of support members extending outwardly from the bore to the barrel; and   a plurality of longitudinal engagement beads extending from at least a portion of the support members, the beads positioned at a third radius that is less than the first radius and greater than the second radius and each bead extending toward a bead located on an adjacent support member.   
     
     
         10 . The spool according to  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the radial support members have a longitudinal extension that is generally coplanar with the radial support and extending from the radial support towards one of the first or second longitudinal ends of the barrel. 
     
     
         11 . The spool according to  claim 10 , wherein each bead in the plurality of longitudinal beads extends along the longitudinal extension of the support members. 
     
     
         12 . The spool according to  claim 9 , wherein the engagement beads are radially positioned on the support members for engagement of a drive apparatus located at a defined radial position between the bead and the bore. 
     
     
         13 . The spool according to  claim 9 , wherein the engagement beads are radially positioned on the support members for engagement of a drive apparatus located at a defined radial position between the bead and the barrel. 
     
     
         14 . The spool according to  claim 9 , wherein the beads extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the barrel along the entire length of the support member.